STD cases on the rise in Taylor County; how to protect yourself & get tested
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – The Taylor County Health Department is initiating a conversation about sexual health in response to the influx of sexually transmitted disease (STD) cases in the Big Country.
Currently, the only way to get tested is by visiting your primary care physician or the Mercy Clinic at 850 North 6th Street.
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Talon Bays, a nurse from Mercy Clinic, said that these conversations aim to emphasize the importance of getting tested.
“When the data’s in front of us saying that there is this big problem, we have to bring it to the people and let them know what’s going on and let these people know that they need to be getting tested because sometimes you can have an STD and have no signs or symptoms,” Bays said.
The health department has mostly seen cases of Syphilis, which can be devastating if left untreated.
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“It’s on the rise, including here in Taylor County, and syphilis can damage every single part of your body,” Bays said. “Sometimes, people miss those signs and symptoms, and then it goes away. You’re still contagious during that time, but during that time, it’s actually wreaking havoc on your body, and it can start to damage things like your brain, your heart, your bones, and your joints.”
She mentioned that they have come across another worrying disease.
“We’ve also seen a couple of cases of antibiotic-resistant Gonorrhoea, which is very concerning. It means that we are not able to treat Gonorrhoea with the antibiotics we have now,” Bays said.
Bays is a community leader in STD health education, teaching at local high schools and providing screenings to homeless individuals through West Texas Harm Reduction.
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Mike Perro, an outreach coordinator for the reduction center, provides sexual protection and education to individuals experiencing addiction and homelessness. He shares his personal story of overcoming an STD to encourage others to get tested.
“At one point in my life, I had hepatitis C, and of course, because of medicine, I am no longer a carrier of hepatitis C,” Perro said. “Even when I get tested for HIV, there’s still that fear. What if I have it? The whole time you’re waiting for results, there’s always that thought in the back of your mind.”
The Mercy Clinic offers free STD screenings on the first Monday of every month. The clinic also provides free condoms, and testing is available during regular hours for $25.
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