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VIA MYFOXDC:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Washington, D.C. has earned the top spot in the nation for the highest rates of sexually-transmitted diseases.

According to a new report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, the District has a Chlamydia rate of 1,177 cases per 100,000 people, A Gonorrhea rate of 451.5 cases per 100,000 people and a Syphilis rate of 24.8 cases per 100,000 people.

Those D.C. rates are three to four times the rate of Virginia and Maryland.

The Mary’s Center for Maternal and Child Care located in the heart of Adams Morgan in Northwest D.C. routinely reaches out to teenagers to teach them about STDs, treatment and prevention. Alis Marachelian is the Health Promotions Director.

“Anything that has to do with sex and disease there is definitely a taboo and that’s what we’re trying to pierce by having open communication,” Marachelian said.

The government estimates there are roughly 19 million new cases of sexually-transmitted disease each year.

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