A new breakdown of health data shows the pervasive issue of sexually transmitted diseases in Philadelphia.
RentApplication.com, an online resource for landlords, took 2013 statistics from the Center of Disease Control to rank the total number of reported cases of syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia in major cities per 100,000 residents.
Philadelphia ranked fourth on the list and is by far the largest city in the top 10 with 1689.77 total STDs per 100,000 residents. Above Philly were Montgomery, Alabama, St. Louis, Missouri, and West Memphis, Arkansas.
An interactive map accompanied the website's breakdown, showing the prevalence of STD's across the country.
The issue of STDS in Philly is closely linked the city's poverty problem, as PhillyMag's Patrick Kerksta points out. Despite efforts to provide condoms to sexually active teenagers and a rigorous testing process, Melinda Salmon of the CDC in Philly told PhillyMag that poverty needed to be addressed to truly help cure a number of the city's health issues.
To find out more about STD prevention and testing in Philadelphia, visit the Department of Public Health's website here.