Rates of sexually transmitted diseases on Grays Harbor were well below the state average, according to a state Department of Health study that looked at the most recent statistics available.

According to the Department of Health’s recently released 2016 STD statistics, statewide cases of the most common diseases were up from 2015, with 2,445 more cases of chlamydia, 962 more of gonorrhea and 113 more of syphilis.

Although Grays Harbor also experienced increased numbers, they were better than the state averages, with 271.9 people per 100,000 having chlamydia compared to the state’s average of 434.2, and a rate of 63.2 per 100,000 having gonorrhea compared to the state’s 113.7. The county only had one case of syphilis, up from having none in 2015.

The rate of herpes, which had a slight improvement from 2015, was also better locally, with 19.2 cases per 100,000 compared to 35.4 in the state overall.

County Health Deputy Director Beth Mizushima said “that’s definitely something we’re proud of that our numbers are lower than the state average,” chalking their success up to educational and outreach programs to help residents avoid transmitting STDs, but added that there’s a lot of complexities that make it hard to pin down why statewide numbers were going up.