A digital atlas that provides a state-by-state guide for tracking sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS has been produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC began developing the atlas in 2010 and it went live earlier this month.
In emailed responses to questions, a spokeswoman for the CDC said the Atlas was developed to make data on HIV and STDs more accessible and user-friendly for state and local health departments.
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“It is an interactive tool which allows the CDC to more effectively disseminate data and allows users to observe trends and patterns over time by creating detailed reports, maps and other graphics,” the spokeswoman said.
The online tool is designed to identify areas throughout the country “with the greatest disease burden,” the spokeswoman said.
“This helps all of us in public health to better tailor our resources and interventions to meet the needs in those areas hardest hit. It helps users examine disease trends over time, identify disparities by race, ethnicity, sex and age, and recognize opportunities for program collaboration and service integration.”
Currently, atlas data can be viewed on chlamydia, gonorrhea, primary and secondary syphilis, and AIDS. The CDC plans to expand the atlas later this year to include viral hepatitis, tuberculosis and county-level data.
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