Health center reports more STDs, fewer influenza cases

The number of influenza cases reported in Cape Girardeau County last year fell more than 99% compared to the previous year, according to data released this week by the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center.

Meanwhile, positive tests for sexually transmitted diseases in the county increased by 25% over the same period.

According to the health center's 2020 communicable disease report, there were just 12 reported cases of influenza in Cape Girardeau County during all of 2020, while in 2019 the county had 2,028 reported cases.

County health officials believe COVID-19 — and more specifically the steps people took to avoid it — contributed to the small number of reported influenza cases.

"In 2020, people were being more cautious. Because of the COVID pandemic, people were washing their hands more diligently, being more socially distanced and wearing masks, which helped control the spread of all viruses," health center director Jane Wernsman explained.

"People also weren't as socially active in 2020 and didn't congregate because of capacity restrictions in restaurants, businesses and elsewhere," added Autumn Grim, an epidemiologist at the health center who tracks a variety of communicable diseases.

It is also possible, they said, that because influenza and COVID-19 are both respiratory viruses, physicians and medical facilities in the county simply ordered fewer tests for influenza last year, opting to test for the SARS Co-V coronavirus instead.

"We can't say for sure," Wernsman said. "There may have been providers doing both (tests)."

Rising STD cases

As for the increase in sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), Wernsman said it's possible people were more sexually active last year when they stayed home during the height of the pandemic.

Between 300 and 350 tests for STDs were performed at the health center in each of the last two years, with 60 positive tests reported in 2019 and 81 positive cases in 2020.

The breakdown of positive STD tests last year compared to 2019 was as follows:

• HIV — 3, up from 0 in 2019.
• Hepatitis C — 8, up from 5 in 2019.
• Syphilis — 12, up from 10 in 2019.
• Gonorrhea — 22, up from 13 in 2019.
• Chlamydia — 36, up from 32 in 2019.

"Historically, we've had more chlamydia and gonorrhea cases than any other STD for years," Grim said.

Among communicable diseases reportable to state health authorities, there were a total of 35 cases of chronic hepatitis C infections in the county last year compared to 36 in 2019, leading all reportable categories in both years.

The health center's annual data document also noted there were 72 animal bites reported in 2020 — 57 dog bites and 15 cat bites — down from 2019's total of 110 animal bites — 92 by dogs, 17 by cats and one by a rabbit.