Europe has reached the highest levels of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in a decade, including gonorrhea and syphilis.
According to a report by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), cited by Oxu.Az, gonorrhea cases rose 303% since 2015, reaching 106,331. Syphilis cases reached 45,557, double the 2015 figures.
The ECDC attributes the sharp increase to gaps in testing and prevention services.
Spain recorded the highest numbers: 37,169 gonorrhea and 11,556 syphilis cases.
The agency warns that untreated infections can lead to serious complications such as infertility, cardiovascular and nervous system damage.
