Rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) shot up dramatically throughout Europe in 2022, according to data released on Thursday. Expert reports, which show a double-digit surge for diseases like syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, mirror similarly concerning trends in the United States and other nations.
According to a study from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Europe saw a “troubling” increase in STDs, also known as sexually transmitted infections (STIs), in 2022. During that year, gonorrhea cases increased by 48 percent over the previous year to 70,000; syphilis by 34 percent (35,000 cases); and chlamydia by 16 percent (216,000 cases).
If left untreated, STDs of this nature can lead to a variety of health problems, including chronic pains, infertility, and, in the case of syphilis, cardiovascular problems.
Learn the benefits of becoming a Valuetainment Member and subscribe today!
“The numbers paint a stark picture, one that needs our immediate attention and action,” said ECDC director Andrea Ammon in a press conference, adding that this may only be “the tip of the iceberg” given the methods of data collection.
STD rates in Europe have been steadily increasing for years, but COVID-era lockdowns led to a pause in the trends as sexually active groups were blocked by government-ordered social distancing.
The EU-backed health group attributed rising infection rates—particularly within young, heterosexual communities—to the resumption of normal social interactions post-pandemic. However, others have also linked the upward trend to the explosion of migrants in most European countries. As has been the case in the US, mass migration from Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe—all places where health infrastructure lags behind that of the West—has led to a resurgence in diseases like leprosy and tuberculosis.
Related: Diseases Like Leprosy, Tuberculosis Reappear Amid Migrant Crisis
The ECDC stresses the need for public sexual health education and more accessible testing is needed to reverse the trend.
Connor Walcott is a staff writer for Valuetainment.com. Follow Connor on X and look for him on VT’s “The Unusual Suspects.”
Add comment