Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) across Europe have reached alarming levels, with new figures showing record increases in gonorrhoea and syphilis cases over the past decade.
According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), gonorrhoea and syphilis infections climbed to their highest numbers in more than 10 years during 2024, raising fresh concerns among health experts about public awareness, prevention, and testing.
Gonorrhoea Cases Jump Over 300%
The ECDC revealed that Europe recorded 106,331 confirmed gonorrhoea infections in 2024. This marks a staggering 303% increase compared to figures reported in 2015.
Health officials warned that the rise reflects increasing transmission rates alongside gaps in testing and prevention efforts across several countries.
Meanwhile, syphilis cases also rose sharply. Europe registered 45,557 infections in 2024, more than double the number recorded a decade ago.
Experts say untreated STIs can result in severe long-term complications, including infertility, chronic pelvic pain, neurological disorders, and heart complications.
Health Experts Warn of Serious Complications
Bruno Ciancio, head of the ECDC’s Directly Transmitted and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Unit, warned that the surge in infections presents a growing public health challenge.
He noted that congenital syphilis cases — where infected mothers pass the disease to newborn babies during pregnancy — nearly doubled between 2023 and 2024.
According to Ciancio, congenital infections can lead to lifelong health complications for infants if not detected and treated early.
The ECDC urged people to take preventive measures seriously, including consistent condom use and routine testing, especially for those with multiple sexual partners.
Spain Records Highest Number of Cases
Among participating European nations, Spain recorded the highest number of confirmed gonorrhoea and syphilis infections in 2024.
Spanish authorities reported:
- 37,169 gonorrhoea cases
- 11,556 syphilis cases
The ECDC added that men who have sex with men remain the group most heavily affected by both infections, showing the fastest growth rates over recent years.
However, the agency also highlighted a worrying increase in syphilis infections among heterosexual women of reproductive age.
Chlamydia Still Most Common STI
Despite declines in recent years, chlamydia remains the most commonly reported bacterial STI in Europe.
The ECDC recorded 213,443 chlamydia cases in 2024, representing a 6% decrease since 2015.
Medical experts believe increased awareness campaigns and testing programmes may have contributed to the slight reduction.
UK Introduced Gonorrhoea Vaccine
Although the United Kingdom no longer participates in the ECDC surveillance programme following Brexit, the country continues to publish its own STI statistics.
The UK Health Security Agency reported:
- 71,802 gonorrhoea cases in England during 2024
- 9,535 syphilis cases
- 168,889 chlamydia diagnoses
The UK introduced a gonorrhoea vaccination programme in 2025 after infections reached a record 85,000 cases in 2023.
Health officials hope the vaccine rollout will help slow future transmission rates.
Symptoms of Gonorrhoea and Syphilis
Doctors warn that many STI infections may not show symptoms immediately, making regular testing essential.
Gonorrhoea symptoms include:
- Pain during urination
- Unusual genital discharge
- Inflammation around the genitals
- Pelvic pain
Some infected individuals may show no symptoms at all.
Syphilis symptoms include:
- Sores around the mouth or genitals
- Skin rashes on the hands or body
- Hair loss
- Flu-like symptoms
Medical professionals stress that both infections are treatable with antibiotics when diagnosed early.
However, delayed treatment can lead to severe health complications and increase the risk of spreading the infections to others.
Calls for Urgent Action
The ECDC has called on European governments to strengthen STI prevention campaigns, improve access to testing services, and expand sexual health education.
Health experts also encouraged sexually active individuals to seek regular check-ups and use protection consistently to reduce transmission risks.