A THREE-fold increase in a disease which can cause sterility in women has alarmed health bosses.

Latest figures show that in just one part of the region - County Durham - the number of cases of a sexually transmitted disease called chlamydia have soared from 189 in 1995 to 603 last year.

While the increase is in line with national figures, there is growing concern that safe sex messages about using condoms are being ignored.

In a bid to detect the disease at an earlier stage, doctors have been discussing the possibility of setting up a screening service in the North-East and North Yorkshire.

Dr Deb Wilson, consultant in communicable disease control for County Durham and Darlington Health Authority, said the increase in chlamydia infections "is particularly concerning".

Although the rise is partly due to better diagnosis of the condition, part of the rise is undoubtedly due to a real increase in the number of cases, she said.

What is particularly worrying is that in 90 per cent of women and 25 per cent of men infected with chlamydia, there are no symptoms.

In the early stages, the disease is easily treated with antibiotics but if it is left untreated it can cause pelvic inflammatory disease which could even lead to infertility in women.

Last year, a regional scientific conference was held to consider new approaches to chlamydia prevention and early detection.

Early diagnosis is now possible using new technology.

The prospect of setting up such a screening service throughout the Northern and Yorkshire region is currently being discussed by members of the Regional Review Group for Communicable Disease Control.