Record numbers of gonorrhoea and syphilis infections have been reported across Europe, prompting health officials to warn about growing public health risks linked to sexually transmitted infections.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control revealed that gonorrhoea cases climbed to 106,331, representing a 33 per cent rise since 2015 and the highest level recorded in over ten years. Syphilis infections also more than doubled during the same period, reaching 45,557 confirmed cases.
Health experts attributed the increase to inadequate testing, poor awareness, and gaps in STI prevention efforts across Europe. According to Bruno Ciancio, untreated infections could lead to severe long-term complications.
“These infections can result in chronic pain, infertility, and in the case of syphilis, damage to the heart and nervous system,” Ciancio said. “When transmitted to newborn babies, they may also cause lifelong health complications.”
Spain recorded the highest number of infections, reporting 37,169 gonorrhoea cases and 11,556 syphilis cases.
Authorities are advising sexually active individuals to use condoms, especially with new or multiple partners, and to seek medical testing if they experience symptoms or suspect exposure.
Last year, the United Kingdom became the first country to launch a vaccine programme against gonorrhoea. Clinical trials showed the vaccine lowered infection risk by more than 50 per cent, a development experts described as a major advancement in sexual health protection.
Medical professionals explained that gonorrhoea symptoms can appear within two weeks after infection, although some infected individuals may show no symptoms for months. In women, symptoms may include yellow or green discharge, painful urination, abdominal discomfort, and bleeding between periods.
For men, common symptoms include discharge from the penis, burning sensations during urination, and pain in the testicles. The infection spreads through unprotected sexual contact, including oral sex, and can affect the genitals, mouth, and eyes.
Syphilis, another bacterial sexually transmitted infection, is commonly spread through vaginal, anal, or oral sex, or by contact with infected sores. The National Health Service warned that untreated syphilis can spread to the brain and other organs, potentially causing serious long-term damage.
Health experts further cautioned that syphilis during pregnancy may lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, or transmission of the infection to newborn babies.
The report also identified some of the highest gonorrhoea infection rates in England as being recorded in Westminster, Islington, Liverpool, Nottingham, and Manchester.
