Europe Sees Record Rise in Gonorrhea and Syphilis Cases, ECDC Warns
New health data have revealed a dramatic surge in sexually transmitted infections across Europe, with gonorrhea and syphilis cases climbing to unprecedented levels.
ECDC data reveal unprecedented rises in gonorrhea and syphilis cases across Europe, with Spain recording the highest totals.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said the continent is experiencing an STI outbreak unlike anything seen in more than ten years.
Corona Borealis/stock.adobe.com
Among the most alarming findings was the sharp rise in gonorrhea infections. Since 2015, reported cases have increased by 303%, reaching 106,331 infections across Europe. Syphilis infections also recorded a steep climb, with more than 45,550 cases reported after numbers more than doubled over the same period.
Spain recorded the highest number of infections in Europe in 2024, according to the BBC. The country registered 37,169 gonorrhea cases alongside 11,556 syphilis infections.
Health experts are particularly concerned about congenital syphilis, where the infection is transmitted from pregnant women to their babies. Participating European countries reported that cases almost doubled between 2023 and 2024.
Officials linked the increase in infections to declining condom use and what they described as “widening gaps” in STI testing services.
“These infections can cause severe complications, such as chronic pain and infertility and, in the case of syphilis, problems with the heart or nervous system,” said Bruno Ciancio, the head of the ECDC’s directly transmitted and vaccine-preventable diseases section.
“Protecting your sexual health remains straightforward. Use condoms with new or multiple partners, and get tested if you have symptoms, such as pain, discharge or an ulcer.”
Experts said men who have sex with men remain the group most heavily affected by the outbreak, though cases are also increasing among heterosexual women of childbearing age.
In response to the growing outbreak, the UK introduced a world-first vaccine in 2025 after authorities documented a record 85,000 gonorrhea cases in 2023.
Doctors warn that gonorrhea may cause genital pain, inflammation and unusual discharge, though some infected people experience no symptoms. Syphilis symptoms can include genital or mouth sores, hand rashes, hair loss and flu-like symptoms.
Health officials stressed that using protection and receiving antibiotic treatment remain the main ways to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections.