The number of gonorrhea cases has increased by 300 percent compared to 2015.
Photo: Chris Jackson-Pool/Getty Images
Sexually transmitted infections, including gonorrhea and syphilis, have reached record levels in Europe. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reported that both diseases reached their highest figures in more than 10 years in 2024, the BBC writes.
The number of gonorrhea cases amounted to 106,331 — a 303% increase compared to 2015 — while syphilis figures more than doubled over the same period, reaching 45,557.
The ECDC noted that one of the reasons for the increase in infection transmission was "deepening gaps in testing and prevention," and called for urgent action.
"These infections can cause serious complications, such as chronic pain and infertility, and in the case of syphilis, heart or nervous system problems," says Bruno Ciancio, head of the ECDC's Vaccine Preventable and Communicable Diseases Unit.
He added that cases of congenital syphilis — "when the infection is passed directly to newborns, leading to potentially lifelong complications" — almost doubled from 2023 to 2024.
"Protecting your sexual health is simple. Use condoms with new or multiple partners and get tested if you have symptoms," he added.
Spain had the highest number of confirmed cases of gonorrhea and syphilis among European countries in 2024 — 37,169 and 11,556 respectively.
The ECDC reported that men who have sex with men remain the most disproportionately affected group — this group saw the sharpest increase in the number of gonorrhea and syphilis cases.
A significant increase in syphilis cases is also reported among heterosexual women of reproductive age.
Although chlamydia remains the most common bacterial infection overall, its number of cases has decreased by 6% since 2015, totaling 213,443.
According to a report by the UK Health Security Agency, published in December, England recorded 71,802 cases of gonorrhea and 9,535 cases of syphilis in 2024.
During the same 12 months, 168,889 cases of chlamydia were diagnosed.
In 2025, a vaccine against gonorrhea was introduced in the UK — after the number of cases reached a record 85,000 in 2023.
What are the symptoms of gonorrhea and syphilis?
Symptoms of gonorrhea can include pain, unusual discharge, and inflammation of the genitals — however, in some cases, there are no symptoms.
Infections can be avoided through the correct use of condoms and vaccination.
Symptoms of syphilis include sores around the genitals and mouth, rashes on the hands, hair loss, and flu-like symptoms. They are often difficult to spot at first and can appear and disappear over time.
Like gonorrhea, syphilis can be prevented through the use of condoms and treated with antibiotics.
Both infections, if left untreated, can cause serious problems.
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