Syphilis cases in England are at the highest levels since 1949, prompting warnings over risky sexual practices
Cases of syphilis in England have hit their highest level since 1949, with gay men being disproportionately represented in the increased numbers, figures published by Public Health England have shown.
There were 5920 cases of the infection reported in 2016, a 12% rise from 2015, and nearly the double the number in 2012.
Public Health England said most of the increase was associated with transmission among gay, bisexual, and other men who had sex with men, although experts warned of a rise in cases among heterosexuals as well.
“The increase we are seeing in syphilis and other sexually transmitted infections is a marker of a more general problem within sexual health, and tackling this must be a priority,” Dr Patrick French, a UK genitourinary medicine consultant, told The Guardian newspaper.
“More awareness is needed about STIs, how they can be prevented and why it is important to have a check-up if you think you are at risk,” Dr French said.
Syphilis infection was a marker of high-risk sexual activity, the Public Health England report said.
Drug-fuelled parties, app-facilitated sexual networking and so-called “sero-sorting”, where people chose sexual partners based on their HIV status, were all associated with reduced use of condoms, the report said.
The recent rise in cases of syphilis comes after a historical decline in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when the spectre of a HIV pandemic encouraged many people to change their sexual habits.
