A rare and severe form of gonorrhea infection has claimed the life of a woman in her 50s in Alaska, prompting health officials to warn residents about the risks. The woman was admitted to an Anchorage emergency room with respiratory distress and was later diagnosed with disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI).
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DGI occurs when untreated gonorrhea spreads from mucosal sites into the bloodstream, causing serious complications such as septic shock, heart failure, and endocarditis. The woman’s infection was confirmed through tests detecting Neisseria gonorrhoeae at multiple sites.
She had sought medical care twice in the months before her death for opioid use disorder but had not been tested for gonorrhea in the previous year. The untreated infection allowed the bacteria to spread, leading to her fatal condition.
Although DGI is uncommon, accounting for about 0.5% of gonorrhea cases, recent cases in Alaska have raised concern. Eight cases were reported in early 2025, mostly in Anchorage, with several patients having no prior STI history.
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Health officials advise people with new or multiple sexual partners to be vigilant for symptoms and get tested promptly. Dr. Liz Ohlsen noted that the risk spans various groups, particularly those with multiple partners or partners who do.
