Two major STIs hit record levels in Europe

Gonorrhoea and syphilis are on the rise for a worrying reason (Picture: Getty)

Record levels of Gonorrhoea and syphilis have been detected in Europe, reaching the highest number of cases in over ten years.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said that cases of gonorrhoea soared to 106,331 cases – a 33% surge since 2015.

Syphilis cases, meanwhile, have more than doubled – reaching 45,557 cases in the same period of time.

The reason? Increasing gaps in both testing and prevention for STIs across the board.

Head of the Directly Transmitted and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases unit, Bruno Ciancio, said the infections could cause lifelong complications.

‘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,’ he said.

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