Allen County is on track to surpass last year’s total number of reported sexually transmitted infections.
Numbers provided by the Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health indicate 238 more reported cases of STIs than this time in 2016. That’s an 11 percent increase.
Allen County health commissioner Deb McMahan says the jump could be traced back to the region’s increase in drug overdoses, which she says may lead to more prostitution.
“We’re working very closely with our local police and sheriff to be able to address this, but sadly I believe we’re going to find that’s part of it,” McMahan said.
Hepatitis C cases have increased from 212 last year, to 279 this year. McMahan says the health and police departments will sort through cases to zero in on the root causes of the increase.
