Algoma Public Health
Gonorrhea - February 2017 Bulletin
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by bacteria.
You can get gonorrhea if you have unprotected oral, vaginal or anal sex with a person who already has the infection. If you are pregnant you can pass it on to your baby when you are giving birth.
Gonorrhea is treated with antibiotics (medicine) prescribed by a health care provider.
The yearly number of gonorrhea cases in Algoma has increased by 370% since 2012, from 20 cases to 94 cases in 2016.
In 2016, the rate of gonorrhea cases in Algoma ranked 3rd highest of 36 Ontario public health units. Furthermore, 42.6% of new gonorrhea cases were in people aged 20-29 years old, and 58.5% of cases were in females.
How to reduce your risk
- Use a condom or dental dam for all oral, anal and vaginal sex
- Limit the number of sexual partners you have
- Being drunk or high can lead you to take risks, like unprotected sex
- Trust yourself, only you know when you are ready
- Get tested regularly and talk to your partner(s) about their testing
To reduce the spread of gonorrhea, Algoma Public Health will:
- Ensure all people diagnosed with gonorrhea receive education and treatment
- Raise public awareness, especially among youth and young adults
- Provide free antibiotics to those in need
Learn more:
Sexual Health
Data source: ¹Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS) database; Ontario Population Estimates and Projections, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, IntelliHEALTH ONTARIO. Accessed January 19 2017.