STI rates are growing in the Carolinas

Mecklenburg County Public Health says the growing number of sexually transmitted infections is concerning. Data from the health department shows syphilis case rates dating back to 2018. Each year, the cases continue to grow. Click the video player above to watch the latest headlines from WXII 12 News.Top StoriesMan faces 14-26 months in prison after killing his dogOne person suffering from serious injuries after being shot near Dudley High School, officers sayCommunity remembers 5-year-old who passed away one year after car crash left her paralyzed The health department is working to increase testing and has mailed out new at-home kits to test themselves. South Carolina health departments also see an uptick in STIs. “There’s a lot of syphilis,” said Bernard Gilliard, state program manager for Partner Services and Disease Intervention with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. Gilliard says they’re focusing on education, awareness, and routine screening. Health officials of the Carolinas are hoping their efforts will help end the spread. For more on this story, visit our news partner WCNC. Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscastsNAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We Love |TOP STORIES:Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here.