The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reported that bacterial sexually transmitted infections, specifically syphilis and gonorrhoea, reached record high levels in 2024. Data indicates a striking surge in notifications across the EU/EEA, driven by changing sexual habits and systemic gaps in testing and healthcare access.
The 303 per cent surge in gonorrhoea and syphilis
The scale of the current outbreak is not merely a statistical uptick but a sustained trajectory of growth. According to data published by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), gonorrhoea cases have skyrocketed by 303 per cent since 2015, reaching 106,331 notifications in 2024. This represents the highest notification rate since the agency began its surveillance in 2009.
Syphilis has followed a similarly aggressive path, with cases more than doubling over the same period to reach 45,577. While these two infections are grabbing headlines for their record growth, chlamydia remains the most common STI reported, with 213,443 cases.
The data also highlights the persistence of rarer strains. Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV), a rare strain of chlamydia bacteria that primarily affects men, continues to show “ongoing transmission” with 3,490 reported cases.
| Infection | 2024 Reported Cases | Trend/Context |
|---|---|---|
| Chlamydia | 213,443 | Most frequently reported STI |
| Gonorrhoea | 106,331 | 303 per cent increase since 2015 |
| Syphilis | 45,577 | More than doubled since 2015 |
| LGV | 3,490 | Ongoing transmission |
Demographic shifts and the gender gap
The transmission patterns are not uniform across the population. Between 2023 and 2024, overall gonorrhoea rates rose by 4.3 per cent, but the burden is heavily skewed. Men saw a 7.9 per cent increase, with the highest concentration of cases among those aged 25 to 34. More than half of all 2024 gonorrhoea cases occurred in men who have sex with men.
Conversely, rates among women decreased by 8.6 per cent, though the most reported cases were found in the 20-24 age group. This decline does not alleviate the urgency for health officials.
ECDC Report
Syphilis is also evolving in its reach. While men who have sex with men remain the most disproportionately affected group with the sharpest long-term increases, the ECDC notes that syphilis is now rising among heterosexual people as well.
The rise of preventable congenital syphilis
Perhaps the most distressing trend is the near-doubling of congenital syphilis cases between 2023 and 2024, jumping from 78 to 140 cases across the 14 reporting countries. This occurs when an infected pregnant person passes the bacterium to the foetus, a condition that can lead to “potentially lifelong complications.”
The risk is highest for pregnant individuals with untreated early syphilis. This surge is directly linked to the increase in syphilis cases among women of reproductive age. Between 2015 and 2024, Bulgaria reported the highest number of these cases at 195, followed by Portugal with 96 and Hungary with 91.
ECDC Report
Financial barriers and the need for decisive action
The spike in infections is not just a result of behavioral changes but a failure of infrastructure. As Inkl reported, the surge is happening alongside “widening gaps” in testing. A critical barrier is cost: 13 out of 29 reporting countries still require out-of-pocket payments for basic STI tests.
This financial friction delays diagnosis and allows for uninterrupted transmission, particularly for asymptomatic infections common in women. The ECDC is calling for “decisive action” from national healthcare bodies to remove these costs and accelerate treatment.
“Sexually transmitted infections have been on the rise for 10 years and reached record high levels in 2024.
Bruno Ciancio, Head of Unit, Directly Transmitted and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases at the ECDC
To reverse these trends, experts argue that Europe must prioritize accessible prevention services, faster treatment, and more aggressive partner notification systems. Without an urgent update to national STI strategies and surveillance, the current trajectory suggests that inequalities in care will widen and negative health consequences will compound.
Note: Always consult your healthcare provider for testing, diagnosis, and treatment of sexually transmitted infections.
