Sexually-transmitted infections rising in Caddo Parish

CADDO PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – The number of sexually transmitted infections is rising in the parish. The Caddo Commission is looking to intervene with a new funding measure. Commissioners will discuss providing at-home tests for families at the Harbor of Shreveport

as a way to combat the ongoing spread of STIs’.

Public health leaders said Louisiana continues to top the country’s list of sexually transmitted infections.

“When I started, we had 36 cases of Congenital Syphilis cases in Caddo Parish—the highest number in the country. We had gotten that down to two right before Covid. We had 50 last year,” said Dr. Martha Whyte, Regional Medical Director Louisiana Dept. of Health.

Dr. Whyte refers to Congenital Syphilis, which occurs when a mother passes the infection to her baby—data from 2022 shows 36,000 cases of Chlamydia statewide, with 2,000 in Caddo Parish.

Fifteen thousand cases of Gonorrhea, with 1,000 in Caddo Parish.

Infections can lead to infertility and life-threatening diseases.

“These are insidious germs. They live, and they survive in our community because they’re transmitted from person to person. They are now what I’ve started to call gateway bugs because if you have Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, or Trichomoniasis, you are more susceptible to getting infected by HVI if you are exposed,” said Dr. John Vanchiere, MD, PhD Ochsner LSU Health.

Dr. Vanchiere said LSU Health has ramped up its testing measures, including at-home tests that provide broader access to the community. However, more is needed to bring down the numbers.

“We need to do at least 20 to 30 times more testing than we are now,” Dr. Vanchiere said.

“There is so much Gonorrhea and Chlamydia there is not enough people to do case management on the number of cases there are,” Dr. Whyte said.

The commission will analyze a funding measure to provide at-home tests for youth at the Harbor, a juvenile diversion center that partners with the Volunteers of Youth Justice.

“It’s not just the Harbor. But the harbor sees so many people. It is a reasonable place to start,” Dr. Whyte said.

The doctors said the at-home tests can help a young person find out if they have an infection and seek treatment immediately.

The commission will meet this Thursday to discuss this measure. Dr. Vanchiere said Medicaid can help provide additional funding.