Gonorrhea and syphilis cases hit record highs in Europe due to changing sexual habits and testing
The Independent • • health
Key Points:
- Cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as gonorrhea and syphilis in Europe have reached their highest levels in over a decade, with gonorrhea cases rising 303% and syphilis cases more than doubling between 2015 and 2024, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
- The surge is linked to changing sexual behaviors and gaps in testing, with men who have sex with men disproportionately affected, though syphilis is also increasing among heterosexual populations, including women of reproductive age.
- Congenital syphilis cases, where infections are transmitted to newborns, have nearly doubled from 78 cases in 2023 to 140 in 2024, raising concerns about serious lifelong health complications.
- The ECDC highlighted that 13 out of 29 reporting countries still require out-of-pocket payments for basic STI tests, calling for urgent action to improve access to testing, faster treatment, and enhanced partner notification to curb transmission.
- Experts urge national health authorities to update STI strategies and strengthen surveillance systems to prevent further increases and reduce health inequalities related to STI care and prevention.