Sexually transmitted infections including gonorrhoea and syphilis reached record levels across Europe in 2024, according to new data released by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
The agency said gonorrhoea cases climbed to 106,331, marking a 303% increase since 2015, while syphilis cases more than doubled over the same period to 45,557.
The ECDC described the trend as part of a decade-long rise in bacterial sexually transmitted infections across multiple countries.
Chlamydia remained the most commonly reported bacterial STI, with 213,443 cases reported in 2024, though the total was down 6% from 2015.
The ECDC said widening gaps in testing and prevention were contributing to sustained transmission rates.
Bruno Ciancio, head of the agency’s Directly Transmitted and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases unit, warned that untreated infections could lead to chronic pain, infertility, and complications affecting the heart or nervous system.
The agency also reported a sharp increase in congenital syphilis, with cases nearly doubling between 2023 and 2024 and reaching their highest level since 2009.
Congenital syphilis occurs when the infection is passed from a pregnant person to a fetus during pregnancy.
The ECDC said Bulgaria, Portugal, and Hungary recorded the highest number of congenital syphilis cases between 2015 and 2024.
The report recommended strengthening prevention efforts among heterosexual populations and increasing screening programmes, including possible third-trimester retesting for pregnant women.
Spain recorded the highest number of confirmed gonorrhoea and syphilis cases among participating European countries in 2024, with 37,169 gonorrhoea infections and 11,556 syphilis cases.
The ECDC said men who have sex with men remained the group most disproportionately affected by gonorrhoea and syphilis.
The agency also noted rising syphilis rates among heterosexual women of reproductive age.
Health officials said increased screening and improved reporting systems may partly explain higher case numbers, though changes in sexual behaviour and lower condom use were also identified as contributing factors.
The United Kingdom, which is no longer included in ECDC surveillance following Brexit, separately reported 71,802 gonorrhoea cases and 9,535 syphilis cases in England during 2024.