In the 2022 reporting year, the number of reported cases increased significantly compared to the previous year, with gonorrhea cases increasing by 48 percent, syphilis by 34 percent and chlamydia diseases increasing by 16 percent, the ECDC said today. “Immediate urgent measures” are needed. The cases of lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) and congenital syphilis – which refers to transmission from mother to fetus – have also increased “significantly”. The annual epidemiological reports that have now been published provide information about the development of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the European Union and the European Economic Area (EU/EEA).
A long-term strategy is needed
ECDC Director Andrea Ammon expressed concern: “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 STIs.” Education is necessary so that people can make informed decisions. Knowledge about the importance of consistent use of condoms must be increased.
“Proactive measures essential”
Everyone potentially affected should “take proactive measures to protect themselves and their partners.” Timely testing for early detection and rapid treatment is essential, especially for people with new or multiple sexual partners. All the more so because some of these infections are asymptomatic and can be passed on without knowledge. Diseases such as chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, if left untreated, can lead to serious complications, such as pelvic inflammatory disease or chronic pain. Chlamydia and gonorrhea can cause infertility, while syphilis can cause neurological and cardiovascular problems. An untreated syphilis infection during pregnancy can have serious consequences for the child.
Record reporting rates in Europe
In 2022, 2,059 cases of LGV were reported by 23 EU/EEA member states, an increase of 58 percent compared to 2021. Spain, the Netherlands, France and Belgium account for 84 percent of the cases, according to ECDC. There were also 70,881 confirmed cases of gonorrhea in 28 countries that provided data for the reports. According to ECDC, the reporting rate was “the highest since European surveillance of sexually transmitted infections began in 2009.”
216,508 confirmed cases of chlamydia infection have been reported in 27 EU/EEA countries. They peaked in 2019, declined during the coronavirus pandemic, before record reporting rates were recorded for both women and men in 2022. For syphilis, 35,391 infections were recorded in 29 EU/EEA member states. “Reported syphilis rates were eight times higher in men than in women and highest in 25- to 34-year-old men,” said the experts, namely 40 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The majority (74 percent) with transmission category information was reported among men who have sex with men.
ePaper
Read the ePaper now!
Read the daily ePaper edition of the OÖNachrichten – browse through it digitally now!
to the e-paper
info By clicking on the icon you can add the keyword to your topics.
info By clicking on the icon you open your “my topics” page. You have saved 15 tags and need to remove tags.
info By clicking on the icon you can remove the keyword from your topics.
Add the topic to your topics.