ECDC Flags 106,331 Gonorrhoea Cases in Europe as Congenital Syphilis Jumps to 140
Updated
Updated · BIOENGINEER.ORG · May 21
ECDC Flags 106,331 Gonorrhoea Cases in Europe as Congenital Syphilis Jumps to 140
12 articles · Updated · BIOENGINEER.ORG · May 21
106,331 gonorrhoea cases and 45,577 syphilis cases were reported across the EU/EEA in 2024, while congenital syphilis rose to 140 cases from 78 a year earlier, the ECDC said.
The agency linked the surge to a decade of changing sexual behavior and weak prevention systems, with 13 of 29 reporting countries still charging out-of-pocket fees for basic STI diagnostics.
Men who have sex with men remain the group most affected by gonorrhoea and syphilis, while rising infections among women of reproductive age are feeding more mother-to-child transmission.
Chlamydia stayed the most reported STI at 213,443 cases and LGV reached 3,490, underscoring broader sustained bacterial STI transmission rather than an isolated spike.
ECDC urged wider testing, faster treatment, stronger antenatal screening and updated national strategies, while limiting doxy-PEP to selected high-risk groups because of gonorrhoea resistance concerns.
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Unprecedented STI Crisis in Europe: 2023 Sees All-Time Highs in Gonorrhoea and Syphilis
Overview
Europe is facing an unprecedented surge in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in 2023, with gonorrhoea and syphilis reaching record highs. This crisis is driven by a sharp 321% increase in gonorrhoea rates since 2014, widening gaps in testing and prevention, and urgent calls for action from health agencies. The rise is especially severe among young people and men who have sex with men. These trends highlight the need for better testing, prevention, and treatment strategies to address the growing public health challenge across European nations.