The level of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as gonorrhea, syphilis, and chlamydia has now reached epidemic proportions in the United States and the rise is proving to be “alarming” to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta. The cases of new STDs have continued to rise over the past few years. Case levels are the highest they have ever been in the history of the U.S.

While the CDC’s research has shown that the STD levels in the country have gone up and down over the last few years, there was a tremendous upsurge for the three major ones, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, in 2014, according to The Los Angeles Times. In a public announcement, the CDC stated that, “America’s worsening STD epidemic is a clear call for better diagnosis, treatment and prevention.”

The worst of the epidemic, it seems, has landed in California. Compared with 3,000 other counties in the country, Los Angeles County had the highest amount of all three diseases last year. The CDC continued to declare that the STD epidemic is a serious challenge to the long term health of Americans. Both gonorrhea and chlamydia are fairly common as STD’s go and are fairly easy to treat, but they can cause infertility in women if undiagnosed.

Health official urge sexually active men and women, especially women, to get tested every year for STDs. Over half of the STD cases appear in the 15-24 year old age group. Syphilis can be a bit more tricky, however. While it is treatable and curable, if undetected it can cause such devastating situations as blindness and even madness.

One of the major problems in the country, and especially in California, is that pregnant women who are carrying STDs and don’t know it are passing those afflictions to their children during pregnancy. Health officials warn that condoms should be worn at all times to prevent the further spread of the diseases.