STDs up in Scotland

EDINBURGH, Scotland, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- A total of 264 cases of syphilis were diagnosed in Scotland in 2008, the most in more than half a century.

A report prepared by the National Health Service also showed young people are the most likely to contract sexually transmitted diseases. Almost 75 percent of cases of Chlamydia, 61 percent of gonorrhea diagnoses and 59 percent of genital warts were found in people under the age of 25, who are only 13 percent of the population, The Daily Telegraph reported Tuesday.

In 2007, there were 249 reported cases of syphilis. The 2008 total was the highest since 1952.

While gonorrhea cases rose 6 percent to 1,073, with a 30 percent increase in women, and genital herpes was also up, there was one bright spot -- diagnoses of the human immunodeficiency virus that causes AIDS dropped 9 percent to 412.

"Whilst we have noted increases in testing and diagnoses, there are still those who remain undiagnosed, thus, more testing is required," said Dr. Lesley Wallace, one of the report's authors. "We need to continue to encourage behavioral change including safer sex and regular sexual health checkups especially for those with new or casual sex partners."