New figures show Chlamydia screening failed to hit target

New figures released by local health bosses in England have shown that the Chlamydia screening program has failed to reach its target of testing 17% of 15–24 year olds. Chlamydia is now the UK’s most common sexually transmitted disease (STD), with over 120,000 new cases diagnosed last year.

The government’s target for Chlamydia screening is 17%, but in some areas as little as 5% of young people were tested; this is far below the 35% many health experts predict is needed to prevent the disease from spreading.

This is the second year in a row that local health trusts have failed to meet the 17% target, and it is now estimated that up to one in ten 15-24 year olds has the disease, double that of a decade ago.

Simon Blake from the sexual health charity Brook said that the new screening figures were unsatisfactory, stating that: “We’re really worried about Chlamydia, if you only test 14% of young people, even if they are treated, the chances are there will be re-infection throughout the population. So we have to get 35% tested to get it under control.”

Anyone who has any symptoms of Chlamydia or feels that they may have contracted the disease is urged to take a STD test straight away.