How many people have been affected by chlamydia?

I am about as angry as I can ever recall being. I have just learned some new things about chlamydia, primarily that it is not at all true that you can only get it from sexual contact. After some discussion and a little research I find that you can get it from dogs, cats and many other animals – the same chlamydia that humans get. There has been some publicity about the fact that many young, even prepubescent girl are getting it, it is increasing rapidly. Many of these girls have never had any form of sexual contact – but do have constant access to pets that have the disease. Fifty percent of household dogs have chlamydia and thirty percent of cats. Many animals have it, in Australia it is threatening to wipe out the iconic Koalas.

I once dumped a guy for cheating on me after I tested positive for it and was absolutely assured that I had acquired it through a sexual contact. He denied ever cheating. It was easy to get rid of, but the idea disgusted me and I blamed him as I was told there was no other way I could have got it. I had several dogs and cats who used to crawl all over me and have since discovered that two of them have chlamydia. I know of several relationships destroyed because the woman though her partner must have been cheating.

Why are they still claiming that it is an STD when other veterinary sources warn of the risk of contracting it from dogs and cats? You need to use very high hygiene standards if your pet has chlamydia, and many do. The only real sign is conjunctivitis, gunk around the eyes at times.