Unalaska, AK – Gonorrhea infection rates in Alaska jumped up 69 percent in 2009 and the highest rate increase is in Southwest Alaska. It's also affecting more people who are 25 years old and younger.

It's unclear exactly what the rates are in Unalaska. Susan Jones with the state's department of epidemiology said statistics are kept based on the infected person's permanent residence. Though fewer than five people who identified Unalaska as their home tested positive, there are no records on how many people who live here on a part-time basis and transit through the town are infected or were treated for infections here. That means this community is not necessarily a risk-free area.

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease that causes painful urination, pus-like discharge in men and vaginal discharge, abdominal and pelvic pain, and painful urination in women. It can lead to infertility in both men and women and can spread to your joints and pelvis. Nurse practitioner Wendy Hladick said it can also make you more susceptible to other problems, including HIV infection.

"If you acquire gonorrhea, chances are very likely that you may also acquire Chlamydia at the same time, which is another sexually transmitted disease, as well as other STDs, such as herpes, and you are also more susceptible to HIV if you've acquired gonorrhea."

Jones said the increased rates statewide may be related to the fact that people are experiencing milder symptoms. She said that people are waiting longer to get treated because the symptoms aren't as noticeable. If they wait longer to get treated, they can infect more people. Jones said it's important to get the outbreak of gonorrhea under control because the bacteria becomes resistant to more types of antibiotics and therefore harder to treat.

Hladick said you can prevent gonorrhea by using condoms and by knowing your partner's history. "So it is best to be aware of your sexual partner, ask them if they've ever had a sexually transmitted disease or ask them if they would be willing to be tested prior to having sex."

Hladick said if you have any unusual symptoms, even mild ones, get checked either at the clinic or the wellness center. Testing for gonorrhea only requires a urine sample. If you are infected with this or any other STD, Jones said it's important to notify all of your sexual partners so they can also be tested. The clinic at present does not have an anonymous partner notification system, though other health centers and hospitals in the state do.