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STI cases reach decade-high levels in Europe
Gonorrhoea and syphilis infections in Europe have climbed to their highest levels in over ten years, according to the latest data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). The agency reported 106,331 gonorrhoea cases in 2024-a 303% increase since 2015-while syphilis cases more than doubled to 45,557 over the same period.
Driving factors behind the rise
The ECDC attributed the surge to gaps in testing and prevention efforts. Bruno Ciancio, head of the agency's Directly Transmitted and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases unit, warned that untreated infections can lead to severe complications, including chronic pain, infertility, and neurological or cardiovascular damage in syphilis cases.
Congenital syphilis-where the infection passes from mother to newborn-nearly doubled from 2023 to 2024, raising concerns about long-term health consequences for infants.
Most affected groups and countries
Spain recorded the highest number of confirmed cases in 2024, with 37,169 gonorrhoea and 11,556 syphilis diagnoses. Men who have sex with men remained the most disproportionately affected group, showing the steepest long-term increases in both diseases. However, heterosexual women of reproductive age also saw significant rises in syphilis cases.
Chlamydia, while still the most commonly reported bacterial STI, declined by 6% since 2015, with 213,443 cases in 2024.
UK trends and vaccine rollout
Though the UK no longer participates in ECDC research post-Brexit, national data from England showed 71,802 gonorrhoea and 9,535 syphilis cases in 2024. Chlamydia diagnoses reached 168,889 during the same period.
The UK introduced a gonorrhoea vaccine in 2025 after cases peaked at 85,000 in 2023. Health authorities emphasize that condoms and vaccination remain key preventive measures.
Symptoms and prevention
Gonorrhoea symptoms may include genital pain, unusual discharge, and inflammation, though some individuals show no signs. Syphilis often begins with painless sores around the genitals or mouth, followed by rashes, hair loss, or flu-like symptoms-sometimes going unnoticed for years.
"Protecting sexual health is straightforward: use condoms with new or multiple partners, and get tested if symptoms appear," Ciancio advised.
ECDC
Both infections are treatable with antibiotics but can cause serious harm if left untreated. The NHS recommends consistent condom use and vaccination where available.
