North Carolina is among the top states when it comes to rates of sexually transmitted diseases, according to the most recent data.
The surveillance report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for 2018 shows the number of STD cases at an all-time high, nearly 2.5 million.
Numbers for the three most commonly reported STDs — chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis — all rose.
When broken down by state, North Carolina was in the top 10 for rates of both chlamydia and gonorrhea and ranked 15th for syphilis.
A growing problem across the country is congenital syphilis which can be passed from a mother to her baby during pregnancy. In 2018, there were 17 cases in North Carolina.
The CDC notes that many STDs can be treated with antibiotics, but when left undiagnosed, they can put an individual at risk. The organization recommends early prenatal care and regular testing.