Records show that sexually transmitted infections (STIs) reached peak levels across Europe in 2024, according to new data published by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). The report highlights a significant surge in cases of gonorrhea and syphilis, noting that the ECDC is concerned about gaps in both testing and prevention efforts. Targeted measures are urgently needed to curb further spread, particularly among women of reproductive age.
Recent epidemiological reports reveal a sharp increase in bacterial STIs across the continent. For the first time in over a decade, reported figures for gonorrhea and syphilis, along with congenital syphilis, hit their highest points. Gonorrhea cases, in particular, rose dramatically to 106,331, marking a 303 percent increase since 2015. Similarly, syphilis cases doubled over the same period, reaching 45,577. Overall, chlamydia remained the most frequently reported STI with 213,443 cases, while lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) continued to see transmission, reporting 3,490 cases.
Transmission patterns vary significantly across different populations. Men who have sex with men (MSM) were the most heavily affected group, reporting the steepest long-term increases for both gonorrhea and syphilis. Among heterosexual populations, syphilis increased notably in reproductive-age women, causing congenital syphilis cases to nearly double from 78 in 2023 to 140 in 2024. Given these trends, the ECDC strongly recommends improving prenatal screening and care to ensure early diagnosis and treatment of syphilis, thereby preventing transmission to the fetus.