"Europe Faces a 'Hidden Epidemic' as Superbug Cases Surge by 300%"

Table of Contents

• A Hidden Epidemic
• Surge in Cases
• Health Concerns
• Stay Safe from Gonorrhea
• Antibiotic Resistance
• Call to Action

A concealed epidemic is quietly spreading across Europe, with incidents of a disturbing STI rising by 300 percent.

Reports of gonorrhoea surged among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men between 2014 and 2023, according to a grim report by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

Cases of gonorrhoea have increased among gay and bisexual men as well as young womenCredit: Getty

There was also a significant rise in cases among women, with a 200 percent increase in those aged 20 to 24 between 2021 and 2023.

This follows warnings about an escalation in antibiotic-resistant strains, with health authorities cautioning that the ‘superbug’ may become “untreatable in the future.”

Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a bacterium.

Symptoms can include burning sensations and discharge, typically appearing two weeks after sexual contact with an infected individual.

While the infection is not fatal, it can lead to long-term health issues if untreated, such as , , and .

Health authorities have raised alarms in recent years regarding alarming increases in STIs, including gonorrhoea, chlamydia, and syphilis.

In its latest report covering 29 countries, the ECDC indicated that STIs continue to rise across the European Union and the European Economic Area.

“Although most countries have strategies in place, significant barriers to preventative measures and testing, as well as a lack of data, are impeding efforts to control the epidemics of chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and syphilis,” the health watchdog stated.

It noted considerable increases in the number of reported cases of bacterial STIs among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, as well as heterosexual men and women.

From 2014 to 2023, reports of gonorrhoea soared by 300 percent in this demographic.

Meanwhile, syphilis infections rose by 90 percent and chlamydia cases increased by 180 percent.

Syphilis is a serious STI that can lead to potentially life-threatening issues if left untreated, although initial symptoms can be “hard to detect” and “may come and go.”

There has been a surge in diagnoses, with 9,535 cases of early-stage syphilis reported in 2024, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

Chlamydia is the most commonly diagnosed STI in England , as reported by UKHSA, with the majority of cases occurring among young people.

Gonorrhoea cases have also increased among heterosexual men and women in Europe, according to the ECDC.

“The most significant increase has been noted in young women, where notification rates of gonorrhoea surged by nearly 200 percent between 2021 and 2023 among those aged 20−24 years,” it reported.

“The reasons behind these increases remain unclear,” the health watchdog continued.

“Changes in behavior” and “increased testing in certain groups” might be contributing factors, but the ECDC pointed out that data on this is “very limited.”

The report emphasized the “threat” posed by antibiotic-resistant