ROCK ISLAND COUNTY, Illinois - The Rock Island County Health Department is reporting an outbreak of gonorrhea.
Nationwide, cases of gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis have been increasing, according to the COO of Rock Island County Health Department, Janet Hill.
In the last three months, leaders say Rock Island County has seen about 44 cases of gonorrhea.
That is enough to make the Illinois Department of Public Health declare it an outbreak.
The disease can infect both men and women in the genitals, rectum, and throat.
"Gonorrhea is a very treatable disease. Antibiotics, most likely, will knock it out," said Hill. "If you're not tested, you won't know whether you have it."
If untreated, it has the ability to harm the reproductive tracts in both men and women.
The health department offers walk-in STI clinics on Wednesday from 1:00 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. The cost is $25 per visit.
Other testing/treatment locations include:
- School Health LINK (Up to age 18)
309-732-0958 - The Project of the Quad Cities
309-762-5433 - Community Health Care in Rock Island, Moline, East Moline
563-336-3000 - Public Health Partners (Henry & RI County)
309-794-7088