Texas-Based High School Hit by Severe Chlamydia Outbreak; CDC Sees ‘Epidemic Proportions’

A Texas high school is currently plagued by an outbreak of chlamydia, a sexually-transmitted infection affecting both men and women, CBS Houston noted. The Centers for Disease Control reportedly sees the outbreak at "epidemic proportions."

According to the Huffington Post, district officials confirmed that the Crane Independent School District has seen 20 cases of the disease in its high school. As a precautionary measure, a letter has been sent to its junior high school.

The affected high school has a total of 300 students, the Daily Mail cited, which counts for an estimated rate of 1 person infected in every 15 individuals. The situation has alarmed parents, the outlet said.

As it turns out, the high school has a three-day program dedicated to sex education, which basically encouraged abstinence, CBS Houston wrote. The outlet cited Jim Rumage's remarks, superintendent of the Crane Independent School District, who said, "We do have an abstinence curriculum, and that evidently ain't working. We need to do all we can, although it's the parents' responsibility to educate their kids on sexual education."

Rumage also expressed (quoted by the Daily Mail), "If kids are not having any sexual activity, they can't get this disease... That's not a bad program."

Chlamydia can cause serious and permanent damage to a woman's reproductive system, CDC informed. The condition, unfortunately, can render a woman difficult pregnancy or worse, sterility in the future.

Chlamydia is acquired by having vaginal, anal or oral sex with someone who's already infected. The disease may be transferred with or without a man's ejaculation.

To lower chances of infection, the CDC encourages being in long-term, mutually monogamous relationship with a partner negative for STD. In addition, the health agency recommends the use of latex condoms "the right way" for every sexual intercourse.

The following signs and symptoms are listed by the CDC:

Women

- An abnormal vaginal discharge

- A burning sensation when urinating

Men

- A discharge from the penis

- A burning sensation when urinating

- Pain and swelling in one or both testicles (less common)

Meanwhile, according to the Daily Mail, the school's student handbook states that the Crane school district "does not offer a curriculum in human sexuality." When cited in other classes, however, the material must "present abstinence from sexual activity as the preferred choice of behavior in relationship to all sexual activity for unmarried persons of school age."

Nevertheless, the school board is scheduled to discuss changes in the sex-ed curriculum on May 19, CBS Houston said.