ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Department of Health says there was an all-time high in the number of sexually transmitted diseases diagnosed in the state last year.

The department said in a report released Monday that there were 25,986 STDs diagnosed last year, up 6 percent from 2014 and 33 percent from five years ago.

Minnesota Commissioner of Health Ed Ehlinger said in a news release that the “disturbingly high” growth rate in STD cases “shows the need for improved education about STDs” among the public and health care providers.

According to the department, chlamydia is the most commonly reported STD with a new high of 21,238 cases in 2015, followed by gonorrhea with 4,097 cases reported last year.

The department says the report also showed higher chlamydia and gonorrhea infection rates among communities of color and American Indians compared with whites.