European health chiefs urge 'safe sex practice' over summer months amid spike in STIs

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said: 'Due to the concerning rise in sexually transmitted infection transmission across Europe, the ECDC is urging everyone to keep informed and practice safer sex as they leave for holidays, festivals, and travel this summer season'. Picture: Alamy

European health chiefs have urged people to practice safer sex on summer holidays as sexually-transmitted infections such as syphilis and gonorrhoea spike across the region.

Data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) shows a 48% rise in gonorrhoea cases, 34% uptick in syphilis cases and 16% increase in chlamydia cases during 2022 compared to 2021, with indications 2023 was similar.