In 2022, Oklahoma saw some of the highest rates of sexually transmitted infections in the nation, specifically in syphilis and chlamydia. Now in 2024, the state has made great strides and Oklahoma is seeing improvement in trends.

According to data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States saw a decrease in cases for a majority of notifiable STIs between 2023 and 2024.

Sexually transmitted infections, such as syphilis and gonorrhea, are notifiable diseases, which means health providers are required by law to report positive tests to state or local public health officials. This data is then used by officials to track and prevent outbreaks. However, some STIs can remain asymptomatic, and those not regularly getting tested can unknowingly pass on an infection to a partner.

Here’s a look at how Oklahoma has progressed in STI rates through 2024:

Chlamydia 

Oklahoma saw 18,729 cases of chlamydia, the state’s most prevalent STI, from the start of 2023 to mid-December. This places the state near the top 10 states in the nation for highest Chlamydia rates at No. 11. 

According to CDC data, the number of cases in Oklahoma decreased 44% in 2024 to 10,461 statewide. This moves Oklahoma to the middle of the nation’s positivity rates and the lowest in the region, which includes Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas.

The drop is not singular to Oklahoma, either. All states, except South Carolina, saw a decrease in new cases, with over a quarter of a million fewer cases in 2024.

Syphilis

Oklahoma was previously a leader in syphilis cases across the nation in 2022. But new Oklahoma cases have been cut in half compared to just last year. 

The CDC reports that in 2023 there were 1,112 primary and secondary cases of the infection and 78 for the congenital variant. However, by the end of 2024, both numbers had dropped substantially. Congenital syphilis cases dropped to 50 cases throughout the year, while the primary and secondary cases dropped over 50% to 517 total cases.

The nation’s year-end data also reflects this as well. Only four states weren’t a part of the national decrease. There were almost 20,000 fewer cases in 2024 than in 2023 for primary and secondary syphilis and roughly 1,200 fewer cases for the genital variant.

Gonorrhea

Similarly, the nation’s gonorrhea cases have decreased by over 100,000, with all states reporting lower numbers than in 2023. Oklahoma reported 6,774 new infections to the CDC in 2023 and will report 3,842 new cases in 2024. 

Similar decreases were seen around the nation, with the total number of cases dropping from almost 600,000 in 2023 to 484,453 in 2024.

Hepatitis B

The CDC tracks three different forms of Hepatitis B: acute, chronic, and perinatal.

Acute Hepatitis B is the only CDC-reported STD that saw an increase nationwide, increasing about 150 cases. Oklahoma, however, did not contribute to the rise as the state fell from 19 cases to 4 throughout 2024.

The CDC has not published the nation’s chronic Hepatitis B cases for 2023. In Oklahoma, there were 213 reported positive cases in 2023. For comparison, the country reported 263 new cases just in the week ending Dec. 21, 2024. The Sooner state sits in the lower half of the country for total cases, while the country reaches 17,864.

Oklahoma did not contribute to any of the nation’s 7 Perinatal cases.

NORTH TEXAS – A Honduran man is accused of abducting a 22-year-old Haltom City woman at gunpoint, forcing her to withdraw money from a bank, and driving her more than 20 miles to an apartment complex where she escaped and summoned help, police said.

Eduardo Javier Ordonez Godoy, 35, of Honduras, was taken into custody when he was found inside her vehicle in Oklahoma City on Christmas Day, according to the Haltom City Police Department.

Police said Ordonez Godoy, who has “no known local address,” is facing aggravated kidnapping and aggravated robbery charges. He is being held at the Oklahoma County Detention Center, with an “active ICE detainer hold” due to his immigration status.

The woman’s abduction from Acacia Apartments, 5000 Denton Highway, in Haltom City occurred at about 4:45 a.m. Tuesday while she was walking to her vehicle, police said.

After threatening the woman and forcing her to withdraw an undisclosed amount of cash, police said Ordonez Godoy drove the victim 22 miles to Camden Apartments, 3900 Grapevine Mills Parkway, in Grapevine.

When she escaped, Ordonez Godoy fled in her vehicle, which police entered into law enforcement databases “with a note of the violent nature of the offense,” although the victim wasn’t physically harmed, according to police.

Ordonez Godoy was apprehended in her vehicle with evidence connected to the offense in the 2100 block of SW 39th Street on Wednesday in Oklahoma City, police said.

In addition to the Haltom City charges, the Oklahoma City Police Department has also charged Ordonez Godoy with unauthorized use of a vehicle; use of a firearm while committing a felony; receiving, possessing, or concealing stolen property; and carrying or possessing a firearm by an illegal alien, the news release said.

The investigation is continuing, police said, and additional charges may be filed.

College football bowl season continues Friday as the Oklahoma Sooners square off against the Navy Midshipmen in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl.

The Sooners are seeking a much-needed confidence boost after a challenging first season in the SEC, while Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables tries to avoid a second consecutive seven-loss season. Moving forward, the Sooners will turn to true freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. to lead the offense at quarterback after starter Jackson Arnold entered the transfer portal and subsequently committed to Auburn. This season, Hawkins Jr. made five appearances for the Sooners, achieving a 62.3% completion rate, while throwing for 536 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. On the ground, he recorded 143 rushing yards and one touchdown.

On the other hand, the Midshipmen head into the Fort Worth, Texas, on a high note after defeating arch rival Army 31-13, finishing the regular season with a record of 9-3 and placing third in the American Athletic Conference. Navy is led by quarterback Blake Horvath, who has returned from a thumb injury. Horvath completed 57.5% of his passes for 1,261 yards, along with 13 touchdowns and four interceptions. On the ground, Horvath recorded an impressive 1,099 rushing yards and scored 15 touchdowns.

Follow along for scores and highlights from the Armed Forces Bowl as Oklahoma takes on Navy:

FUTURE OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOWL SYSTEM? It’s complicated and uncertain

When is the Armed Forces Bowl between Oklahoma and Navy?

The Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Navy Midshipmen kicks off at noon ET (11 a.m. CT) at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas.

How to watch Oklahoma and Navy in the Armed Forces Bowl

The Armed Forces Bowl game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Navy Midshipmen will be televised nationally on ESPN.

Live streaming is available on Fubo, which has a free trial.

Watch Oklahoma take on Navy with a Fubo subscription

Oklahoma vs. Navy: Armed Forces Bowl odds

The Oklahoma Sooners are favorites to defeat the Navy Midshipmen, according to BetMGM.

Odds as of Friday, Dec. 27

• Spread: Oklahoma (-1.5)
• Moneyline: Oklahoma (-120); Navy (+120)
• Over/under: 43.5

USA TODAY: Writers split on winner

• Scooby Axson: Navy
• Jordan Mendoza: Navy
• Paul Myerberg: Oklahoma
• Erick Smith: Oklahoma
• Eddie Timanus: Navy
• Dan Wolken: Oklahoma

ESPN: Navy 24, Oklahoma 20

Adam Rittenberg writes: “The Sooners return to a Big 12 stadium seeking a better result than their last appearance in Fort Worth, a 55-24 loss to TCU in 2022. They take on a Navy team capable of piling up points with a new offense coordinated by Drew Cronic and featuring dual-threat quarterback Blake Horvath. But Navy’s offensive mojo slowed in the second half of the season, and Oklahoma will need to lean on its own stout defense after quarterback Jackson Arnold and others are headed to the portal. Sooners coach Brent Venables is trying to avoid his second 6-7 season in three years, ahead of a pivotal 2025 campaign. Oklahoma’s defensive opt-outs are worth watching, and there are more guarantees on the Navy side.”

Docs Sports: Take Navy

Staff writes: “The Midshipmen have earned 4,131 total yards for the year. When it comes to getting in the endzone, Navy has amassed 13 touchdowns through the air and 33 touchdowns via the ground. Navy has accumulated 195 first downs as an offense, and they have been called for 57 penalties for 475 yds. As a team they have an average of 247.4 yards via the ground game ranking them 8th in the nation. Concerning scoring points, the Navy Midshipmen are averaging 32.3 points per outing.”

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