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Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Volume 472: debated on Monday 3 March 2008

To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the Answer of 19 October 2006, Official Report, columns 1438-42W, on sexually transmitted diseases, how many diagnoses there were of each disease per head of population in each year since 2000-01; and how many cases there were of each (a) in total and (b) per head of population in (i) 2005-06 and (ii) 2006-07. [Official Report, 11 March 2008, Vol. 473, c. 1MC.] (190917)

The total number and rates of new diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in England are shown in the following tables.

Total number and rate of new STIs diagnosed in genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinics in England; 2001-06

Total number of new STI diagnoses1

Rate of new STI diagnoses1

2001

272,387

657.1

2002

291,910

588.0

2003

311,572

625.0

2004

325,783

650.4

2005

327,994

650.4

2006

335,123

664.51

1 Includes those shown in the table that gives details on the rate of new diagnosis of selected STIs diagnosed in GUM clinics in England, per 100,000; 2001-06 and breakdown of confirmed positive chlamydia diagnosis among those aged 13-24 by year in England.

Total number of new diagnoses of selected STIs diagnosed in GUM clinics in England; 2001-06

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

Anogenital herpes simplex—first attack

17,054

17,510

17,157

16,952

17,618

19,388

Anogenital warts—first attack

62,423

63,938

65,279

68,217

68,701

70,988

Primary and secondary infectious syphilis

717

1,196

1,538

2,033

2,574

2,515

Uncomplicated chlamydial infection

68,180

78,117

85,516

92,948

95,930

99,230

Uncomplicated gonorrhoea

22,398

24,357

23,492

20,779

17,702

17,445

Total

170,775

185,118

192,982

200,929

202,525

209,566

Rate of new diagnoses of selected STIs diagnosed in GUM clinics in England, per 100,000 population; 2001-06

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

Anogenital herpes simplex—first attack

34.5

35.3

34.4

33.8

34.9

38.4

Anogenital warts—first attack

126.2

128.8

130.9

136.2

136.2

140.8

Primary and secondary infectious syphilis

1.4

2.4

3.1

4.1

5.1

5.0

Uncomplicated chlamydial infection

137.9

157.3

171.5

185.6

190.2

196.8

Uncomplicated gonorrhoea

45.3

49.1

47.1

41.5

35.1

34.6

Notes:

1. Data are collected by calendar year and not financial year.

2. The data available from the KC60 statutory returns are for diagnoses made in GUM clinics only. Diagnoses made in other clinical settings, such as general practice, are not recorded in the KC60 dataset.

3. The data available from the KC60 statutory returns are the number of diagnoses made, not the number of patients diagnosed. For example, individuals may be diagnosed with chlamydia several times in one year and each diagnosis will be counted separately.

4. The information provided has been adjusted for missing clinic data.

5. Data are unavailable for 2007.

6. The total population was used for the calculation of overall rates.

Source:

Health Protection Agency

In addition, data from the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP) shows that between 1 April 2003 and 31 December 2007, among those aged 13-24, there were 565,424 tests for chlamydia, 496,594 confirmed negatives and 54,017 confirmed positive diagnoses.

Breakdown of confirmed positive chlamydia diagnoses among those aged 13-24 by year in England

Number of positive tests

2003-04

1,756

2004-05

6,784

2005-06

11,003

2006-07

15,993

2007-081

18,481

Total

54,017

1 Data are only available up until 31 December 2007.

Number of confirmed positive chlamydia diagnoses and rates per 100,000 population aged 13-24 in England: April 2005-March 2007

April 2005-March 2006

April 2006-March 2007

Number of positive tests

11,003

15,993

Total population1 aged 13-24 years

7,887,127

7,887,127

Confirmed positive diagnoses per 100,000 population

139.5

202.8

1 Population estimates refers to 2005 Office for National Statistics population estimates for those aged 13-24 years.

Notes:

1. The data are from NCSP registered screening venues and includes the Boots pathfinder project. Data as of 29 January 2008

2. The NCSP screens those aged under 25 years.

3. The NCSP began screening on 1 April 2003 and so data are only available from that date onwards.

4. The NCSP collects number of tests and not number of people tested. We assume that number of tests is a close proxy for number of people tested as re-testing is rare.

5. The data available from the NCSP are the number of diagnoses made and not the number of patients diagnosed.

Source:

NCSP.