Louisiana #1 in chlamydia, #2 in gonorrhea: Baton Rouge provider on reason for high rates and how to stay on top of your health

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - Louisiana is leading the country in one STI, and is high in several others, according to data from the CDC.

“It’s easier and a lot less costly to prevent disease than it is to treat,” David Ourso, Open Health Care Clinic Family Nurse Practitioner, said.

Ourso treats and educates patients with STDs or STIs at the Open Health Care Clinic in Baton Rouge.

“A lot of times, patients will come in, they don’t have symptoms, but they’re not getting regularly tested, nor are we using our safe sex practices,” Ourso said.

According to the CDC, in 2023, Louisiana was #1 in chlamydia, #2 in gonorrhea, #7 in congenital syphilis, and #8 in primary and secondary syphilis.

These numbers were not always this high. A report from the Louisiana Department of Health five years ago showed syphilis and gonorrhea cases were on the decline, but still high compared to the rest of the country.

Ourso says we are seeing these high numbers because of an overall lack of education.

“It doesn’t take just intercourse or penetration to get that STI. A lot of patients come in, and they might have an STD, STI in their mouth or in another part of their body that is not getting tested. So if a person is only testing blood work or urine, but we’re not testing other areas that we like to have sexual activity in, well then we’re spreading that without even knowing that we have an STD,” Ourso said.

Ourso says the stigma around STDs and STIs can hold people back from seeking care, but says the uncomfortable conversation is worth it for your health.

“If I had to give a personal antidote the first time I had somebody test me, the best thing that stuck with me, and to this day I say to all my patients, the only person monogamous in a relationship is you. So, making sure that you’re taking care of your health, and we’re here to help you. So if you have questions, concerns, you need those resources, we’re here to give those to you and I think that is the way to get those numbers down, educating patients, making sure they know where to go, making sure that the state and the surrounding cities have the resources that they need for testing those patients,” Ourso said.

The Open Health Care Clinic and its HAART program provide free screenings and care on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, click here.

Click here to report a typo. Please include the headline.

Click here to subscribe to our WAFB 9 News daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox.

Copyright 2025 WAFB. All rights reserved.