Health officials in Putnam County are warning residents about an alarming increase in the number of diagnosed cases of chlamydia.

Erin Ray Pascaretti, an epidemiologist at the Putnam County Health Department, is in charge of combing through years of public health records to look for any troubling trends. Pascaretti says what she found was a 200 percent increase in diagnosed cases of chlamydia. She says in 2006 only 45 people tested positive and in 2014 the number of cases was 147.

Pascaretti says the numbers may seem low, but the rate is high when you factor in that the county's population is only around 100,000.

Chlamydia is curable, but it can be painful and lead to infertility if left untreated. Health officials urge anyone who might suspect something is wrong to please see a medical professional.