According to the latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Montgomery and Mobile have been identified as two of the nation’s worst cities in terms of sexually transmitted disease (STD) rates. This revelation comes after the CDC released data on STDs for the first time since the COVID-19 lockdown.

An analysis conducted by the Innerbody Research Institute, which examined CDC data, reported that nearly 40% of the top 100 cities with the highest rates of STDs are located in the South. While Philadelphia, PA, currently holds the highest STD rate, five out of the next six cities in the rankings are in the Deep South. Montgomery, ranking seventh on the list, reports 1,323 cases of STDs per 100,000 residents.

The highest number of cases in Montgomery can be attributed to chlamydia, with 3,252 cases reported over the past year. Gonorrhea follows with 1,571 cases, alongside 80 cases of syphilis and 64 cases of HIV.

Mobile ranks 14th in the list of worst cities for STDs, reporting 1,234 cases per 100,000 residents. Similar to Montgomery, chlamydia cases dominate the STDs in Mobile. The city reported 5,795 cases of chlamydia in the past year, accompanied by 1,944 cases of gonorrhea, 160 cases of syphilis, and 91 cases of HIV.

Apart from Montgomery and Mobile, other Southern cities feature prominently in the list, underscoring a pervasive problem in the region. Memphis, TN, takes the second spot, followed by Jackson, MS, New Orleans, LA, and St. Louis, MO. The top 10 list is completed by Baton Rouge, LA, San Francisco, CA, Detroit, MI, and Washington, D.C.

The CDC report suggests that Southern cities may face the highest impact due to social and racial disparities. Factors such as the lack of health insurance, poverty, and housing issues, as well as substance abuse, disproportionately affect minorities. The report stresses the need for sufficient health infrastructure and highlights the “disturbing” trend of 68% of cities in the top 25 for STDs being from the South, despite the region accounting for only 39% of the total population.

Of particular concern is the upsurge in syphilis cases, which had severe consequences, including 220 cases of stillbirth or infant death in the last 12 months studied by the CDC. The report also reveals the long-term health consequences faced by thousands of children who survive the disease.

Dr. Laura Bachmann, the chief medical officer in the CDC’s Division of STD Prevention, stated, “While newborn syphilis cases are increasing nationwide and across every racial and ethnic group, some communities, including those of people who are Black, Hispanic, and American Indian or Alaskan Natives, are experiencing the brunt of the newborn syphilis epidemic.”

Aside from the Southern region, the nation as a whole is experiencing a resurgence of STD cases, returning to pre-pandemic levels. Chlamydia cases in the U.S. stand at a staggering 1.6 million, with 710,000 cases of gonorrhea.