FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 11, 2022

LAS VEGAS — STD Awareness Week is April 10-16, and the Southern Nevada Health District is reminding everyone about the importance of their sexual health and encouraging individuals and health care providers to talk, test and treat to protect their health, the health of their partners, and patients. Throughout April, the Health District’s mobile testing unit and Linkage to Action team will be providing education, resources, testing and services throughout Clark County. The Health District is also offering Express Testing at its Sexual Health Clinic, 280 S. Decatur Blvd. and at All Saints Episcopal Church, 4201 W. Washington Ave., as well as at-home testing through the Collect2Protect program, which provides a convenient and private testing option. In addition, the mobile testing unit will be at Siegel Suites, 454 E. Twain Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89169 between 9 a.m. and noon, Tuesday, April 12, to provide free rapid HIV testing and hepatitis C testing.

“Untreated sexually transmitted infections can have long-term health consequences. It is crucial that people discuss their sexual health with their partners and their health care providers and ask about testing. Our goal is to ensure that everyone has access to testing and treatment options to protect themselves and their partners,” said Dr. Cortland Lohff, Chief Medical Officer for the Southern Nevada Health District. “Our mobile testing unit, All Saints Sexual Health Clinic and Linkage to Action teams make testing available in non-traditional settings that can provide a more welcoming environment for our clients,” said Dr. Lohff.

“All Saints Episcopal Church welcomes everyone and appreciates the opportunity to work with the Southern Nevada Health District as an extension of needed services to everyone including the LGBTQ community,” said Father Rafael Periera, Priest-in-Charge, All Saints Episcopal Church.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in five people in the United States has a sexually transmitted infection; in 2018, that totaled 68 million existing infections. Of the 26 million new infections in 2018, 46 percent were among adolescents and young adults ages 15-24 years. The CDC estimates that STDs cost approximately $16 billion in health costs in the United States. Preliminary data indicate that reported STDs decreased in 2020 as clinics and health care offices closed; however, cases surged once screening for STDs and HIV resumed. In Nevada, the state continues to have high rates of primary and congenital syphilis. For more information about the burden of STDs, visit the CDC’s Sexually Transmitted Diseases Data and Statistics page.

The Southern Nevada Health District’s Sexual Health Clinic provides screenings, treatment, case management, and counseling. For more information or to make an appointment, visit Sexual Health Clinic webpage.

The Southern Nevada Health District serves as the local public health authority for Clark County, Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas, Mesquite and North Las Vegas. The agency safeguards the public health of the community’s residents and visitors through innovative programs, regulations, and initiatives focused on protecting and promoting their health and well-being. More information about the Health District, its programs, services, and the regulatory oversight it provides is available at www.SNHD.info. Follow the Health District on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.