# Rising STI rates in Europe

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/rising-sti-rates-in-europe
> Updated: 2026-09-04T01:00:00.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 4.

Data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) indicates a sharp rise in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) across Europe following a decline during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gonorrhea cases reached approximately 100,000 in 2024, more than triple the 2015 figures, while syphilis cases have doubled to roughly 46,000. Stela Bivol of the World Health Organization's regional office for Europe stated the increase reflects a “real rise in transmission” rather than just improved diagnostics, potentially driven by decreased condom use.

Regional reports continue to show high infection rates. In Poland, medical professionals have reported record levels of STIs, including syphilis and HIV. In Germany, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) and ECDC report rising levels of syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia. In Bavaria, although total HIV diagnoses remained nearly unchanged in 2025, there was a 16 percent increase in new HIV diagnoses among heterosexual men. Bavarian Health Minister Judith Gerlach has warned of the risks of untreated syphilis and has advocated for HPV vaccinations.

In Italy, the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) reported that STI cases reached nearly 8,000 in 2024, a 12 percent increase from 2023. This includes a 41.5 percent annual rise in chlamydia and a fivefold increase in gonorrhea since 2010. While HIV diagnoses in Italy remained relatively stable, officials noted a concerning rate of late diagnoses. Broadly, the ECDC highlighted that STI cases in Europe have reached their highest levels in a decade, with a particularly critical trend in congenital syphilis, which nearly doubled between 2023 and 2024.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-04: STI cases rise in Italy and Europe amid surge in chlamydia and gonorrhea

STI cases are rising in Italy and across Europe, with significant increases in chlamydia and gonorrhea reported by the ISS and ECDC.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sti-cases-rise-in-italy-and-europe-amid-surge-in-chlamydia-and-gonorrhea

### 2026-09-03: Germany reports rising levels of sexually transmitted infections

Sexually transmitted infections, including syphilis and HIV, are seeing rising reported numbers in Germany and Europe, prompting health officials to issue warnings and vaccination calls.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/germany-reports-rising-levels-of-sexually-transmitted-infections

### 2026-08-31: European health trends show rising cancer and STI rates

Health experts warn of rising cancer projections in Europe through 2050 and a record increase in sexually transmitted infections, including HIV and syphilis, necessitating expanded testing and care.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/european-health-trends-show-rising-cancer-and-sti-rates

### 2026-08-10: Europe sees sharp rise in sexually transmitted infections

Europe is seeing a significant surge in STIs, with gonorrhea cases tripling since 2015 and syphilis cases doubling, according to ECDC data and health experts.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/europe-sees-sharp-rise-in-sexually-transmitted-infections

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Cite as: Rising STI rates in Europe. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/rising-sti-rates-in-europe