Sexually transmitted infections have been reported by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control on Thursday, to have surged across Europe in 2022, with known cases of gonorrhoea increasing by almost a half.
Syphilis cases had increased by 34% from the previous year, leading to over 35,000, chlamydia cases rose by 16% to over 216,000. Gonorrhoea cases on its part, rose by 48% to more than 70,000.
ECDC director, Andrea Ammon had said during a press conference on the data that the number paints “a stark picture, one that needs our immediate attention and action.”
STIs left untreated can lead to a host of health problems including chronic pain, infertility and neurological and cardiovascular complications for syphilis cases.
Cases of lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) and congenital syphilis (infection transmitted from mother to foetus) also increased sharply, the ECDC revealed, albeit from lower levels.
STI rates have been on the rise for years in many countries, including in Europe, although this was atopped briefly by the COVID-19 pandemic as several governments imposed social isolation measures, people stayed home and reporting rates fell.
According to the ECDC, a number of reasons were behind the sustained rise. Some of the reasons included better surveillance and a rise in home-testing as well as an increase in dangerous sexual behaviour.
A rise in infections among young heterosexual people in this newest data, particularly among young women, could be due to a change in sexual behaviour post Covid19 pandemic, the EU agency said.
European countries need to aim their focus and efforts on testing, treating and prevention, Ammon had said.
“Individuals themselves need to take steps to protect themselves, especially by using condoms, for example.”
