Gonorrhoea and Syphilis Hit Record Highs Across Europe, ECDC Reports

A Decade of Rising Infections

Sexually transmitted infections have reached record highs across Europe in 2024, according to new data published by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. The agency's latest Annual Epidemiological Reports, released on 21 May, show 28 EU/EEA countries reported 106,331 confirmed gonorrhoea cases last year, a staggering 303% increase since 2015. Syphilis cases more than doubled over the same period to 45,577, while chlamydia remained the most frequently reported STI with 213,443 cases. Lymphogranuloma venereum accounted for a further 3,490 cases.

A Generational Threat to Newborns

Perhaps the most alarming finding is the near doubling of congenital syphilis between 2023 and 2024. Cases rose from 78 to 140 across 14 reporting countries, meaning infections are passing directly from mothers to newborns, leading to potentially lifelong complications. Bruno Ciancio, the ECDC's Head of Unit for Directly Transmitted and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases, called the trend "most distressing" and said STIs have been climbing for ten consecutive years. Among heterosexual populations, syphilis is rising particularly amongst women of reproductive age, while men who have sex with men remain the most disproportionately affected group overall, with the steepest long-term increases in both gonorrhoea and syphilis.

Systemic Gaps in Prevention

The report follows a November 2025 ECDC monitoring assessment that found most EU/EEA countries are ill-prepared to respond to the STI surge. Outdated national strategies, uneven access to services and gaps in antenatal screening are undermining prevention efforts. Thirteen of 29 reporting countries still charge out-of-pocket costs for basic STI testing, creating barriers to early detection. The ECDC has also pointed to missed prevention opportunities, including lack of follow-up testing and inconsistent treatment protocols.

A Call for Urgent Action

In January 2026, the agency issued guidance on doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis to support prevention, though it cautioned against widespread use for gonorrhoea due to antimicrobial resistance concerns. The ECDC has urged national public health authorities to update STI strategies, strengthen surveillance, and expand access to testing and treatment. "Without decisive action, current trends are likely to continue, increasing negative health consequences and widening inequalities in access to care," the agency warned. Public health experts say closing gaps in testing access, antenatal screening and treatment protocols will be essential to reversing a decade of rising infections.