Syphilis data comparing infection rates in EU/EEA countries between 2010 and 2017 reveal a rise of 70 percent in notifications with highest rates ‘primarily among men who have sex with men (MSM) living in urban areas’. Five countries recorded the sharpest rise - Iceland, Ireland, the UK, Germany and Malta. The Head of the ECDC’s programme on HIV, STI and viral hepatitis attributed the rise to being ‘a result of several factors such as people having sex without condoms and multiple sexual partners combined with a reduced fear of acquiring HIV’. Read more
Advice for travellers
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a bacterium that enters through wounded skin or mucous membranes. You can get syphilis by direct contact with a syphilis sore during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Infections can cause long-term complications if not treated correctly with an effective antibiotic. Read more about syphilis and other STIs.
Before you travel, call Travelvax Australia’s telephone advisory service on 1300 360 164 (toll-free from landlines) for country-specific advice and information. You can also make an appointment at your nearest Travelvax clinic to obtain vaccinations, medication to prevent or treat illness, and accessories for your journey.