Full Breakdown
Europe’s Bacterial STIs Reach Decade-Highs in 2024
5/21/2026, 9:16:53 PM
Core Findings: Record Gonorrhoea and Syphilis Cases
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reported that 2024 saw 106,331 gonorrhoea infections—a 303 % rise since 2015—and 45,577 syphilis cases, more than double the 2015 figure. Congenital syphilis cases climbed from 78 in 2023 to 140 in 2024. Chlamydia remained the most common bacterial STI with 213,443 diagnoses, a 6 % decline from the 2015 peak.
Background: A Ten-Year Upward Trend
Over the past decade, European STI notifications have risen steadily. The ECDC attributes part of the surge to “widening gaps in testing and prevention” and to behavioural shifts, including reduced condom use and a higher number of sexual partners among younger people. Post-COVID-19 changes in social interaction and health-service utilisation are also cited as contributing factors.
Key Actors and Data Sources
- Bruno Ciancio, Head of Unit for Directly Transmitted and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases, ECDC.
- Josep Mallolas, head of the HIV/AIDS unit at Hospital Clínic Barcelona.
- World Health Organization (WHO) Europe, which set a 2030 target to reduce congenital syphilis to fewer than one case per 100 000 live births.
- National agencies such as the UK Health Security Agency and health ministries of Spain, Ireland, Malta, Iceland, Luxembourg, Denmark, and Cyprus.
Statistics: Numbers, Demographics, and Country Highlights
- Men who have sex with men (MSM) accounted for over half of gonorrhoea cases; the 25-34 age group showed the highest male rate (7.9 % increase).
- Women of reproductive age experienced a notable rise in syphilis, driving the increase in congenital cases.
- Spain reported the highest national totals (37,169 gonorrhoea, 11,556 syphilis).
- Ireland, Malta, Iceland, Luxembourg, Denmark, and Spain posted the highest notification rates per capita.
- Bulgaria led the EU/EEA in congenital syphilis (195 cases), followed by Portugal (96) and Hungary (91).
- Cyprus recorded 93 syphilis, 21 gonorrhoea, and 22 chlamydia cases in 2024.
Health Implications
Untreated gonorrhoea and syphilis can cause chronic pain, infertility, and, for syphilis, cardiovascular or neurological damage. Congenital syphilis may result in lifelong disability or death in newborns. Growing antimicrobial resistance in gonorrhoea threatens future treatment efficacy.
Official Responses and Policy Measures
The ECDC report urges intensified screening, free testing, and consideration of universal third-trimester retesting for pregnant women. WHO Europe’s 2030 elimination goal frames the response at the regional level. The UK introduced a gonorrhoea vaccine in 2025 after a 2023 peak of 85,000 cases. National health ministries have issued public advisories to use condoms and seek testing after symptoms.
Criticism, Structural Barriers, and Alternative Explanations
Mallolas warned that “condom use has become increasingly rare; it is used less and less.” Bioengineer analysis highlighted that 13 of 29 reporting countries still charge out-of-pocket fees for STI diagnostics, discouraging timely care. Some experts note that expanded testing and improved reporting may inflate case numbers, complicating trend interpretation.
On-the-Ground Country Snapshots
Spain’s 2024 figures dominate the regional totals, while the UK reported 71,802 gonorrhoea and 9,535 syphilis cases in England alone. Cyprus’s modest numbers illustrate how limited testing can mask true prevalence. The concentration of congenital syphilis in Bulgaria, Portugal, and Hungary underscores gaps in antenatal screening.
Conflicting Figures and Data Gaps
Syphilis case counts differ slightly: the BBC cites 45,557 cases, whereas Euronews and other sources list 45,577. The ECDC calls for more granular data on testing coverage, treatment access, and behavioural patterns to resolve such inconsistencies.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Sexually transmitted infections have been on the rise for 10 years and reached record high levels in 2024,” — Bruno Ciancio, ECDC
- “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,” — Bruno Ciancio, ECDC
- “Protecting your sexual health remains straightforward. Use condoms with new or multiple partners, and get tested if you have symptoms.” — Bruno Ciancio, ECDC
- “Condom use has become increasingly rare; it is used less and less,” — Josep Mallolas, Hospital Clínic Barcelona
- “Congenital syphilis is a preventable condition, and elimination across the EU/EEA is achievable,” — ECDC report
Outlook: Targets and Planned Interventions
WHO Europe aims to reduce congenital syphilis to <1 case per 100 000 live births by 2030. The ECDC recommends universal third-trimester retesting for pregnant women, expanded free testing, and updates to national prevention strategies. Discussions on broader rollout of the gonorrhoea vaccine are ongoing in several member states.
