Syphilis and cases of drug resistant drugs on the increase

New cases of sexually transmitted infection syphilis increased again in England, pursuing a trend dating from the early 2000s.

Although the overall number of people diagnosed with gonorrhea has fallen, there has been a significant increase in the number of cases where the infection is resistant to drugs, according to data from the new health security agency of the United Kingdom (UKHSA).

Health experts say it is a real concern, although the actual number of drugs resistant to drugs remains very low.

The NHS recently announced the deployment of the world’s first vaccine program to protect itself from Gonorrhea, mainly targeting gay and bisexual men.

Overall, there were 9,535 diagnoses of what is described as syphilis at an early stage in England in 2024, up 2% on 2023.

But the overall figure of syphilis, including what is called syphilis at an advanced stage, or complications of infection, increased by 5% to 13,030.

Gonorrhea figures show a more complicated image.

Overall, 2024 saw a drop of 16% in cases of Gonorrhea, with 71,802 diagnostics against 85,370 in 2023, with the largest fall for 15 to 24 year olds.

Giulia Habib Meriggi, surveillance and prevention scientist for sexually transmitted infections at UKHSA, urged caution during the decline.

“This is the first year in the past two years when [the numbers] have actually dropped, “she said.

“This is always the third number of the highest cases that we have had in a year in recorded history, so it is a kind of good news, but that does not mean that this will remain like this.

“It is obviously very important for people to be tested regularly and to use condoms with new partners.”

On the other hand, there was an acceleration of the diagnostics of gonorrhea resistant to antibiotics.

Certain strains of bacteria which cause the disease no longer respond to the first line treatment, the ceftriaxone antibiotic.

The numbers themselves remain low, with 14 cases reported in the first five months of 2025, against 13 cases for the whole of 2024.

But six of these 14 cases so far this year have been largely resistant to medication, which means that they were resistant not only to ceftriaxone but also second -line processing options.

Most cases resistant to ceftriaxone were linked to a trip to or from the Asia-Pacific region, where the levels of resistance to ceftriaxone are high.

Ukhsa scientist Prarthana Narayanan describes the trend as “disturbing”.

“The figures are still small, but the reason why this is worrying is that, once the resistance in the gonorrhea becomes endemic, so it becomes extremely difficult to treat, because ceftriaxone is the last first line therapy that we have for that.

“We want to make sure that the spread of the resistant strains is reduced as much as possible to try to extend how long we can use Ceftriaxone to treat it,” she said.

• Syphilis may present as small wounds or ulcers on and around the genitals, as well as white or gray wart growths
• Wounds in other areas, including in your mouth or on your lips, your hands or your bottom
• A rash on the palm of your hands and your soles of your feet which can sometimes spread on your body
• White patches in your mouth
• Pseudo-Grippal symptoms, such as high temperature, headache, fatigue and swollen glands
• Patchy hair loss on the head, beard and eyebrows
• Gonorrhea can cause liquid or penis or vagina discharges
• Burning pain when you urinate
• Pain at the bottom of the abdomen (for women) or painful testicles

The number of sexually transmitted infections remains high, warns Ukhsa, with the impact felt mainly in children aged 15 to 24, gay and bisexual men and certain minority ethnic groups.

But the increase in cases resistant to Gonorrhea drugs is a real concern, in the midst of wider concerns around the growth of antimicrobial resistance.

The World Health Organization describes resistance to antimicrobials as a problem of global concern and one of the greatest threats to global health.

It threatens our ability to process common infections and carry out rescue procedures, including cervical chemotherapy, cesarean sections, hip expanses, organ transplants and other operations.

This is why, even if only 14 cases of drug -resistant gonorrhea have been identified this year, health experts are urging anyone who with new or occasional partners to use a condom and be tested regularly, regardless of their age or sexual orientation.