KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — State and local health officials are investigating almost a dozen cases of a rare complication of gonorrhea infection in Kalamazoo County.
The Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services Department and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says they have seen 10 confirmed cases and 1 suspected case of disseminated gonococcal infection, or DGI.
DGI can occur if a patient has gonorrhea, a sexually transmitted infection. Symptoms include fever, chills, joint pain, stiffness, and swelling and it can lead to infections in joints and internal organs which often requires hospitalization, IV antibiotics, or even surgery.
“We urge community members to protect themselves from this preventable infection through safe sex practices, including using condoms,” said Dr. William Nettleton, Medical Director of Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services Department.
Anyone experiencing these symptoms should contact their doctor immediately and healthcare providers with patients that may have DGI are asked to immediately report it to the Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services Department at 269-373-5267.
More information can be found here.