By Linda Kor Navajo County Public Health Services District officials are correcting information provided in a public meeting held earlier this month that has created a stir, especially in the City of Show Low. A story published in The Tribune-News and titled STD Concerns Prompt County To Reach Out To Residents For Help reported statements made by the health district that the City of Show Low had 1,123 cases of sexually transmitted diseases reported in 2013. A number had the city listed as the 49th most diseased city in the nation, according to Rentaplication.com. Although the statistics were presented by the health district as being limited to Show Low, they are now stating that their department misinterpreted the information. Allison Hephner, community outreach specialist for the health district, provided an email, which stated how the data is reported. “The report was prepared using the data based upon the Micropolitan Statistical Areas: United States as defined by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), which are urban areas in the United States centered on an urban area with a population at least 10,000 but less than 50,000. Using this method, it is apparent that the entire Navajo County is identified as Show Low, the focal population center,” it stated. In other words, the figures presented as being cases specifically identified as being in Show Low, actually represent all of Navajo County. In a final statement Hepher wrote, “Independent of the locale label, Navajo County statistics are valid and suggest that STDs are a significant problem, worthy of health department and citizen attention. The effect of STDs is broader than the person affected, affecting all aspects of our community.”