Warning of rise in STDs across Europe as experts say cases of gonorrhea, syphilis and chlamydia have risen by almost 50% due to the pandemic

Europe is being ravaged by a post-pandemic surge in sexually transmitted infections (STDs), health chiefs warned today.

The number of gonorrhea cases across the continent has more than doubled in just one year. Syphilis rates have risen by more than a third.

Holiday destinations popular with Brits such as Spain, Italy and Malta are among those that have reported a rise in STDs in 2022 recorded data.

As in Britain, Covid lockdown rules effectively put an end to casual sex in many parts of Europe, leading to a drop in STD transmission.

Health officials suspect that this period of unexpected chastity was then followed by an explosion of people having condomless sex with new or casual partners after the lockdown.

The number of STD tests themselves was greatly reduced during the pandemic as healthcare systems focused more on Covid.

Although the majority of STD cases reported in the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) data are in adults in their 20s and 30s, some experts suspect the rise of the ‘silver swipe’ could also play a role.

The term reflects an increasing number of older people seeking a new sexual partner after divorce or bereavement, made possible by the increasing ease of online dating.

ECDC data recorded 17.9 Cases of gonorrhea per 100,000 people reported in 27 European countries in 2022 – a 53 percent increase from the 11.7 cases recorded in 2021.

This figure is roughly equivalent to almost one in 5,000 people on the continent having the STD.

By comparison, in 2019 the rate was only 10.4 per 100,000 people.

Syphilis, meanwhile, rose by 35 percent, from 6.3 per 100,000 to 8.5, equivalent to just under one in 10,000 people. In 2019 the figure was 6.5.

Chlamydia has also risen by around a sixth (16 per cent) to 87.9 per 100,000 – up from the 75.8 recorded in 2021 and equivalent to almost one in 1,000 people. In 2019 the figure was 77.8.

The rate of congenital syphilis – caused by transmission from mother to fetus – also rose from 1.8 per 100,000 people to 2.4.

Writing in the diary, Euro supervisionResearchers said the findings highlight “an urgent need for action” to prevent further spread of the infections.

ECDC Director Dr Andrea Ammon also said: ‘Tackling the substantial increase in STD cases requires urgent attention and concerted efforts.

‘Testing, treatment and prevention are at the heart of any long-term strategy. We must prioritize sexual health education, expand access to testing and treatment services, and combat the stigma associated with STDs.

‘Education and awareness initiatives are critical to empowering individuals to make informed choices about their sexual health.

‘Promoting consistent condom use and promoting open dialogue about STDs can help reduce transmission rates.’

STDs such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis are often treatable, but can lead to serious health complications if left unchecked.

These include pelvic inflammatory disease or chronic pain.

In extreme cases, chlamydia and gonorrhea can lead to infertility, while syphilis can cause neurological and cardiovascular problems.

The NHS recommends waiting fourteen days before testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea and four weeks for syphilis and HIV.

Data shows that Britons aged 15 to 24 are generally the most likely to test positive for an STD. Gonorrhea diagnoses are shown here, broken down by age group

Under the new ECDC guidelines, researchers have recommended that people get tested for STDs, especially if they have a new or multiple partners, to detect the conditions early.

Other tips included practicing safe sex with condoms and promoting open communication around STDs with sexual partners to reduce stigma.

The latest figures for England, released last year, also show that diagnoses for gonorrhea have risen to the highest level since the end of the First World War.

Statistics showed that in 2022, 82,592 people – including children aged 13 and over – were diagnosed with the STD in England.

The figure was 16.1 percent higher than 2019, before Covid struck, and 50.3 percent higher than the 2021 total.

Cases of the dangerous STD syphilis, but also of THE LESS SERIOUS? chlamydia, also jumped.

The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents councils, has warned that sexual health services in England are struggling with an ‘unprecedented’ increase in demand and urged ministers to provide them with extra funding.