NJ towns with alarming increase in sexually transmitted diseases

It's never a good time for a pandemic ... but with yet another record round of reported cases of sexually transmitted diseases, health experts say the timing of the COVID-19 crisis is extremely tough because it is impacting care for these STDs in a big way.

"The ongoing pandemic has really limited the availability of testing and treatment services for sexually transmitted infections, which means more STIs are going undetected and untreated," said Cory Neering, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Northern, Central, and Southern New Jersey.

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Planned Parenthood is encouraging people to "take charge of their sexual health" by getting tested and talking to their partners about getting tested and practicing safer sex.

According to a recent update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reported STDs in the United States hit an all-time high for the sixth consecutive year in 2019. More than 2.5 million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis were reported that year, right before the coronavirus pandemic started affecting the nation.

Neering suggested the only way to "fail an STI test" is to not take one. Most STI cases have no symptoms, but the infection can still be transmitted.

"The fact is, all STIs, including HIV, are treatable, and most are curable," Neering said.

NJ towns with the highest STD increases

Below is a list of the New Jersey municipalities that saw the highest percentage increases in STDs between 2012 and 2019, the most recent years for which state Department of Health data is available. Below that are the municipalities that had the highest rate of infections in 2019.

32
Springfield
Union County
Total STDs reported in 2019: 50
Increase from '12: 150%
Rate per 1,000 residents: 3.0
31
Tabernacle
Burlington
Total STDs reported in 2019: 30
Increase from '12: 150%
Rate per 1,000 residents: 4.4
30
Paramus
Bergen
Total STDs reported in 2019: 63
Increase from '12: 152%
Rate per 1,000 residents: 2.4
29
Washington Township
Morris
Total STDs reported in 2019: 33
Increase from '12: 154%
Rate per 1,000 residents: 1.7
28
New Milford
Bergen
Total STDs reported in 2019: 46
Increase from '12: 156%
Rate per 1,000 residents: 2.3
27
Deptford
Gloucester County
Total STDs reported in 2019: 279
Increase from '12: 166%
Rate per 1,000 residents: 9.1
26
Wood-Ridge
Bergen
Total STDs reported in 2019: 27
Increase from '12: 170%
Rate per 1,000 residents: 3.0
25
Wayne
Passaic County
Total STDs reported in 2019: 125
Increase from '12: 178%
Rate per 1,000 residents: 2.3
24
Point Pleasant
Ocean County
Total STDs reported in 2019: 56
Increase from '12: 180%
Rate per 1,000 residents: 12.3
23
Bound Brook
Somerset
Total STDs reported in 2019: 71
Increase from '12: 184%
Rate per 1,000 residents: 6.8
22
Palisades Park
Bergen County
Total STDs reported in 2019: 69
Increase from '12: 188%
Rate per 1,000 residents: 3.4
21
Montgomery
Somerset County
Total STDs reported in 2019: 49
Increase from '12: 188%
Rate per 1,000 residents: 2.2
20
Buena Vista
Atlantic County
Total STDs reported in 2019: 32
Increase from '12: 191%
Rate per 1,000 residents: 4.3
19
Millstone Township
Monmouth County
Total STDs reported in 2019: 41
Increase from '12: 193%
Rate per 1,000 residents: 3.9
18
Harrison
Hudson County
Total STDs reported in 2019: 106
Increase from '12: 194%
Rate per 1,000 residents: 7.4
17
Livingston
Essex County
"b>Total STDs reported in 2019: 65
Increase from '12: 195%
Rate per 1,000 residents: 2.2
16
Secaucus
Hudson County
Total STDs reported in 2019: 65
Increase from '12: 195%
Rate per 1,000 residents: 3.8
15
Upper Deerfield
Cumberland County
Total STDs reported in 2019: 62
Increase from '12: 210%
Rate per 1,000 residents: 8.3
14
Fairfield
Cumberland County
Total STDs reported in 2019: 61
Increase from '12: 221%
Rate per 1,000 residents: 10.0
13
North Haledon
Passaic County
Total STDs reported in 2019: 45
Increase from '12: 221%
Rate per 1,000 residents: 5.3
12
Westwood
Bergen County
Total STDs reported in 2019: 39
Increase from '12: 225%
Rate per 1,000 residents: 3.4
11
Ocean Township
Ocean County
Total STDs reported in 2019: 33
Increase from '12: 230%
Rate per 1,000 residents: 3.6
10
Stafford
Ocean County
Total STDs reported in 2019: 69
Increase from '12: 245%
Rate per 1,000 residents: 2.6
9
Weehawken
Hudson County
Total STDs reported in 2019: 76
Increase from '12: 245%
Rate per 1,000 residents: 5.8
8
Dover
Morris County
Total STDs reported in 2019: 155
Increase from '12: 252%
Rate per 1,000 residents: 8.3
7
Wyckoff
Bergen County
Total STDs reported in 2019: 36
Increase from '12: 260%
Rate per 1,000 residents: 2.1
6
Fairview
Bergen County
Total STDs reported in 2019: 83
Increase from '12: 261%
Rate per 1,000 residents: 5.7
5
Little Ferry
Bergen County
Total STDs reported in 2019: 65
Increase from '12: 261%
Rate per 1,000 residents: 5.9
4
Bergenfield
Bergen County
Total STDs reported in 2019: 120
Increase from '12: 275%
Rate per 1,000 residents: 4.4
3
Bordentown Township
Burlington County
Total STDs reported in 2019: 61
Increase from '12: 307%
Rate per 1,000 residents: 5.0
2
Woolwich
Gloucester County
Total STDs reported in 2019: 59
Increase from '12: 321%
Rate per 1,000 residents: 4.7
1
Bernards
Somerset County
Total STDs reported in 2019: 51
Increase from '12: 364%
Rate per 1,000 residents: 1.9

These NJ towns have the highest rates of sexually transmitted diseases

Looking at data compiled by the Department of Health in 2019, the most recent year for which reports are available, we determined the rate of STDs for 1,000 people in every municipality. The data combines reports of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. For a different look, you can check out this article for a list of New Jersey towns that saw the highest increase in STD/STI cases in recent years.

Contact reporter Dino Flammia at dino.flammia@townsquaremedia.com.

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