BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Louisiana continues to face some of the highest rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the country, with health officials raising concerns about the impact on young adults.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Louisiana ranks first in the nation for chlamydia cases, second for gonorrhea, and seventh for syphilis. Doctors say those numbers are especially concerning for people between the ages of 15 and 24.

“We always see the 15 to 24 age group as the most affected generation,” said Dr. Victoria Bourgeois with Baton Rouge General. “They are the most sexually active age group, often with new partners, and many are not in committed relationships.”

Bourgeois stressed that practicing safe sex and getting routine te

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