ECDC Report: Sexually Transmitted Infections Reach Record Levels Across Europe

Health officials say the rise reflects sustained transmission across multiple countries and populations, combined with persistent weaknesses in prevention and testing systems.

A worrying rise in congenital syphilis

One of the most concerning signals in the new data is the increase in congenital syphilis, which occurs when a fetus becomes infected during pregnancy.

Across EU/EEA countries that consistently report data, congenital syphilis cases increased from 37 cases in 2015 to 127 in 2024, a rise of roughly 243% over the decade.

Untreated maternal syphilis can lead to severe pregnancy outcomes, including miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, or serious health complications in newborns.

Because congenital infection is largely preventable through early testing and treatment during pregnancy, ECDC considers these increases a warning sign that prevention and screening systems are failing to reach some women in time.

Which populations are most affected

ECDC surveillance highlights several groups where transmission remains particularly significant.

Men who have sex with men (MSM) continue to represent a major share of diagnoses in Europe, with rising trends observed over the past decade for gonorrhoea, syphilis, and chlamydia.

At the same time, infections are increasingly reported among heterosexual men and women, including women of reproductive age, which contributes to the risk of congenital syphilis and broader community transmission.

This pattern suggests that STI epidemics are not confined to specific groups but are expanding across different populations and age ranges.

Systemic gaps slowing the response

Alongside the epidemiological data, ECDC monitoring of national responses reveals structural weaknesses in STI prevention and control systems across the region.

In 2024, 29 of 30 EU/EEA countries participated in a new monitoring system assessing national STI responses across four areas: enabling environment, prevention, testing, and treatment.

The findings point to several recurring challenges:

• Outdated or incomplete national STI strategies in some countries
• Barriers to testing access, including situations where testing costs are paid out of pocket
• Limited data and surveillance capacity in parts of the region
• Uneven prevention programmes across populations at risk

These gaps can delay diagnosis and treatment, allowing infections to spread further and increasing the likelihood of complications.

Europe is also falling behind on broader health targets

The STI surge is part of a wider challenge in infectious‑disease control. ECDC analysis indicates that EU and EEA countries are not on track to meet several 2030 Sustainable Development Goal targets related to HIV, viral hepatitis, tuberculosis, and sexually transmitted infections.

Public‑health authorities say stronger prevention and testing systems will be necessary to reverse these trends and reduce the burden of preventable infections across the region.

What ECDC says needs to change

To slow and eventually reverse the rise in STIs, ECDC recommends several priority actions for national health systems.

Strengthen surveillance
Countries are encouraged to improve STI monitoring systems and data sharing, including linking maternal infection data with birth outcomes to better track congenital syphilis.

Expand prevention programmes
Targeted prevention initiatives should be strengthened for populations at higher risk while also addressing transmission among heterosexual populations in affected countries.

Improve access to testing
Health authorities are urged to reduce barriers to STI testing, expand screening coverage, and integrate testing services into broader sexual‑health programmes.

Enhance antenatal screening
ECDC recommends maintaining strong prenatal screening programmes and considering third‑trimester retesting for pregnant women in countries where congenital syphilis is increasing.

Ensure timely treatment and follow‑up
Rapid diagnosis and treatment—particularly for syphilis during pregnancy—are critical to preventing severe outcomes and interrupting transmission chains.

The bigger picture

The 2024 surveillance data underline a clear message from European health authorities: STI epidemics across Europe are expanding faster than current prevention systems can contain them.

Reversing the trend will require coordinated action across surveillance, prevention, testing, and treatment—along with updated national strategies and better access to sexual‑health services. Without those changes, ECDC warns that infections and their complications will likely continue to rise in the years ahead.