Simcoe Muskoka District

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. Chlamydia often goes undiagnosed because the majority of infected people do not have symptoms. For more information, see the health unit's Chlamydia Fact Sheet.

The following graph shows the number of chlamydia cases in Simcoe Muskoka between 2000 and 2008. There are many factors that influence how many cases are reported to the health unit, as explained on the Infectious Diseases page.

The following graph shows the age-standardized incidence rates (ASIR) of chlamydia in Simcoe Muskoka and Ontario between 2000 and 2008.

The incidence rate of chlamydia varies significantly between age groups so standardization is necessary to compare rates between two populations.  For example, the highest incidence rate of chlamydia is found among 15-24 year olds and Simcoe Muskoka may have a different proportion of people in this age group than Ontario, so both rates must be applied to a standard population to make comparisons. As shown below, the ASIR in Simcoe Muskoka is lower than the Ontario rate, however both rates have increased since 2000.