Which sexually transmitted disease must be reported to the public health department?

• A. Genital herpes
• B. Gonorrhea
• C. Human papillomavirus infection
• D. Chlamydia

Answer: (B)

Public health reporting requirements exist for certain sexually transmitted infections to track outbreaks, identify transmission patterns, and implement control measures. Gonorrhea is one of the infections that is routinely required to be reported to the health department. It’s caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae and can be transmitted easily, with a significant portion of infections being asymptomatic, especially in women. Because untreated gonorrhea can lead to serious complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and increased risk of HIV, timely reporting enables contact tracing, prompt treatment, and prevention of further spread.

Genital herpes and human papillomavirus infections are not typically part of mandatory reporting in most jurisdictions, since their management is often clinical and they don’t usually require immediate public health intervention. Chlamydia is commonly reportable in many places as well, but the key point here is that gonorrhea is the classic infection requiring public health notification to support surveillance and control efforts.