Cases of certain sexually transmitted diseases and infections have been rising in New Jersey in recent years, alarming health officials and lawmakers.

A New Jersey 101.5 review of state Health Department data finds that STD cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis were recorded in nearly every municipality in New Jersey in 2015, the most recent year for which statistics are available.

The 40,000 cases that year amounted to a 6 percent increase from the previous year.

New Jersey 101.5 ranked the Top 50 towns with the highest STD rates and incorporated STD statistics for all municipalities in an interactive map at the bottom of this article. These stats do not include HIV/AIDS cases, which the state measures separately.

Nationally, STD rates are the highest they've been since the 1980s. In New Jersey, doctors are seeing disturbing new trends. Last year, for example, a dozen infants were born with syphilis.

Young people are driving up the numbers. State officials say half the sexually active population will get an STD by the time they turn 25.

GET TESTED!

Sexually active people should consider getting tested regularly. The CDC allows you to locate testing services near you and provides advice about which tests you should get. Visit gettested.cdc.gov

The most common STD was chlamydia, with more than 31,200 cases in the state. Most people who have chlamydia don't know they have it.

The state recorded more than 7,100 cases of gonorrhea, which has grown resistant to antibiotic treatment. New Jersey also had another 1,300 cases of syphilis, which is more prevalent among men who have sex with men.

Newark had the most cases of any single STD. But the state's largest city was only No. 5 when ranked by rate.

Smaller communities had higher concentrations of STDs. Among municipalities with at least 1,000 people, Camden had the highest STD rate in the state, with more than 24.6 infections for every 1,000 residents. Another Camden County municipality — Clementon — came in second, followed by Hopewell Township in Cumberland and East Orange in Essex.

Although there are many other STDs, the state's data only provides stats for these three bacterial diseases.

EDITOR'S NOTE: A previous version of this list incorrectly included Medford Township because the rate had been calculated using the wrong population.

Top 50 STD rates

  1. CAMDEN
    Rate per 1,000 people: 24.6
    Chlamydia: 1352 — Gonorrhea: 522 — Syphilis: 28
  2. CLEMENTON
    Rate per 1,000 people: 22
    Chlamydia: 84 — Gonorrhea: 23 — Syphilis: 3
  3. HOPEWELL TWP - Cumberland
    Rate per 1,000 people: 19.5
    Chlamydia: 78 — Gonorrhea: 11 — Syphilis: 0
  4. EAST ORANGE
    Rate per 1,000 people: 18.3
    Chlamydia: 821 — Gonorrhea: 304 — Syphilis: 51
  5. NEWARK
    Rate per 1,000 people: 15.2
    Chlamydia: 2983 — Gonorrhea: 1056 — Syphilis: 187
  6. IRVINGTON
    Rate per 1,000 people: 14.7
    Chlamydia: 595 — Gonorrhea: 176 — Syphilis: 23
  7. PATERSON
    Rate per 1,000 people: 14.4
    Chlamydia: 1483 — Gonorrhea: 571 — Syphilis: 55
  8. PLEASANTVILLE
    Rate per 1,000 people: 13.7
    Chlamydia: 219 — Gonorrhea: 53 — Syphilis: 5
  9. SALEM CITY
    Rate per 1,000 people: 13.6
    Chlamydia: 58 — Gonorrhea: 8 — Syphilis: 4
  10. BRIDGETON CITY
    Rate per 1,000 people: 13.3
    Chlamydia: 272 — Gonorrhea: 60 — Syphilis: 5
  11. WOODLYNNE
    Rate per 1,000 people: 13.1
    Chlamydia: 26 — Gonorrhea: 13 — Syphilis: 0
  12. CITY OF ORANGE TWP
    Rate per 1,000 people: 12.8
    Chlamydia: 274 — Gonorrhea: 93 — Syphilis: 18
  13. ATLANTIC CITY
    Rate per 1,000 people: 12.7
    Chlamydia: 391 — Gonorrhea: 100 — Syphilis: 11
  14. MOUNT HOLLY
    Rate per 1,000 people: 11.4
    Chlamydia: 84 — Gonorrhea: 22 — Syphilis: 3
  15. MILLVILLE
    Rate per 1,000 people: 11.4
    Chlamydia: 252 — Gonorrhea: 70 — Syphilis: 2
  16. TRENTON
    Rate per 1,000 people: 11.3
    Chlamydia: 767 — Gonorrhea: 160 — Syphilis: 34
  17. PAULSBORO
    Rate per 1,000 people: 11.3
    Chlamydia: 59 — Gonorrhea: 10 — Syphilis: 0
  18. FARMINGDALE
    Rate per 1,000 people: 11.3
    Chlamydia: 13 — Gonorrhea: 2 — Syphilis: 0
  19. LAWNSIDE
    Rate per 1,000 people: 11.2
    Chlamydia: 24 — Gonorrhea: 8 — Syphilis: 1
  20. BEVERLY
    Rate per 1,000 people: 10.9
    Chlamydia: 19 — Gonorrhea: 8 — Syphilis: 1
  21. ASBURY PARK
    Rate per 1,000 people: 10.8
    Chlamydia: 125 — Gonorrhea: 35 — Syphilis: 14
  22. MERCHANTVILLE
    Rate per 1,000 people: 10.7
    Chlamydia: 34 — Gonorrhea: 5 — Syphilis: 2
  23. WILLINGBORO
    Rate per 1,000 people: 10.3
    Chlamydia: 259 — Gonorrhea: 62 — Syphilis: 4
  24. EGG HARBOR CITY
    Rate per 1,000 people: 10.1
    Chlamydia: 33 — Gonorrhea: 10 — Syphilis: 0
  25. BURLINGTON CITY
    Rate per 1,000 people: 9.9
    Chlamydia: 76 — Gonorrhea: 20 — Syphilis: 2
  26. LOWER ALLOWAYS CREEK
    Rate per 1,000 people: 9.6
    Chlamydia: 15 — Gonorrhea: 1 — Syphilis: 1
  27. NEW BRUNSWICK
    Rate per 1,000 people: 9.6
    Chlamydia: 460 — Gonorrhea: 55 — Syphilis: 14
  28. WILDWOOD
    Rate per 1,000 people: 9
    Chlamydia: 36 — Gonorrhea: 11 — Syphilis: 1
  29. ELMER
    Rate per 1,000 people: 8.6
    Chlamydia: 7 — Gonorrhea: 5 — Syphilis: 0
  30. LINDENWOLD
    Rate per 1,000 people: 8.3
    Chlamydia: 103 — Gonorrhea: 38 — Syphilis: 5
  31. PERTH AMBOY
    Rate per 1,000 people: 8.2
    Chlamydia: 382 — Gonorrhea: 30 — Syphilis: 7
  32. SWEDESBORO
    Rate per 1,000 people: 8.1
    Chlamydia: 13 — Gonorrhea: 8 — Syphilis: 0
  33. HILLSIDE
    Rate per 1,000 people: 8
    Chlamydia: 145 — Gonorrhea: 23 — Syphilis: 3
  34. PENNS GROVE
    Rate per 1,000 people: 8
    Chlamydia: 34 — Gonorrhea: 7 — Syphilis: 0
  35. NEPTUNE TWP
    Rate per 1,000 people: 7.9
    Chlamydia: 176 — Gonorrhea: 42 — Syphilis: 3
  36. GLOUCESTER CITY
    Rate per 1,000 people: 7.9
    Chlamydia: 67 — Gonorrhea: 22 — Syphilis: 1
  37. GLASSBORO
    Rate per 1,000 people: 7.8
    Chlamydia: 127 — Gonorrhea: 18 — Syphilis: 0
  38. EWING
    Rate per 1,000 people: 7.7
    Chlamydia: 222 — Gonorrhea: 45 — Syphilis: 10
  39. ROSELLE
    Rate per 1,000 people: 7.7
    Chlamydia: 133 — Gonorrhea: 25 — Syphilis: 4
  40. JERSEY CITY
    Rate per 1,000 people: 7.7
    Chlamydia: 1343 — Gonorrhea: 429 — Syphilis: 123
  41. PLAINFIELD
    Rate per 1,000 people: 7.6
    Chlamydia: 312 — Gonorrhea: 48 — Syphilis: 17
  42. PENNSAUKEN
    Rate per 1,000 people: 7.6
    Chlamydia: 211 — Gonorrhea: 56 — Syphilis: 4
  43. PASSAIC CITY
    Rate per 1,000 people: 7.5
    Chlamydia: 436 — Gonorrhea: 75 — Syphilis: 11
  44. VINELAND
    Rate per 1,000 people: 7.2
    Chlamydia: 359 — Gonorrhea: 68 — Syphilis: 12
  45. WILDWOOD CREST
    Rate per 1,000 people: 7
    Chlamydia: 19 — Gonorrhea: 4 — Syphilis: 0
  46. WINSLOW
    Rate per 1,000 people: 6.9
    Chlamydia: 208 — Gonorrhea: 59 — Syphilis: 7
  47. NEW HANOVER
    Rate per 1,000 people: 6.9
    Chlamydia: 47 — Gonorrhea: 3 — Syphilis: 1
  48. DELANCO
    Rate per 1,000 people: 6.5
    Chlamydia: 21 — Gonorrhea: 6 — Syphilis: 1
  49. COLLINGSWOOD
    Rate per 1,000 people: 6.5
    Chlamydia: 68 — Gonorrhea: 18 — Syphilis: 4
  50. EDGEWATER PARK
    Rate per 1,000 people: 6.4
    Chlamydia: 44 — Gonorrhea: 12 — Syphilis: 1

 

Mapping NJ's STDs

Zoom in and click on a town to see STD stats for 2015. The darker the red, the higher the rate of STD cases.

Sergio Bichao is deputy digital editor at New Jersey 101.5. Send him news tips: Call 609-359-5348 or email sergio.bichao@townsquaremedia.com.

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