Ireland sees sharp rise in STIs as levels hit record high in Europe

Eva Osborne

The rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Ireland were almost a third higher in 2024 than they were in 2019.

According to new data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Ireland was in the top three countries for the highest rates of both syphilis and gonorrhoea in 2022.

The agency said bacterial sexually transmitted infections have reached a record high in Europe.

The ECDC is urging countries' public health authorities to strengthen national STI strategies to prevent numbers continuing to rise.