Urgent warning over surge in antibiotic-resistant ‘super’ STI across Europe – UK cases DOUBLE in a year

AN antibiotic-resistant ‘super’ STI is surging across Europe, while cases in the UK have doubled. Gonorrhoea infections that don’t respond to drug treatment are being spotted in an increasing number of European countries, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) warned. Drug resistant gonorrhoea is surging across Europe and the UK Credit: Alamy Case numbers in the UK doubled between 2024 and 2025 Since 2022, there have been more cases of gonorrhoea that are resistant to ceftriaxone, the first line antibiotic for the sexually transmitted infection (STI). But multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant(XDR) strains have also been detected – meaning they don’t respond to up to three drugs or are resistant to almost all medicines. Sign up for the Health newsletter Thank you! Until last year, drug-resistant gonorrhoea cases were “sporadic”, but “the situation has evolved in 2025 and 2026, with rising case numbers in several countries” – including France, Germany and Sweden. In the past, cases tended to be linked to travel to regions where drug resistant strains are common, such as Southeast Asia, according to the ECDC. But recent clusters of the STI in Europe indicate the bug is being locally acquired, rather than being picked up abroad. Local transmission of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea also seems to be occurring in the UK, where cases have risen steadily in recent years. Ceftriaxone-resistant cases have increased since 2021 in England, data from the UK Health Security Agency shows. Just 13 were spotted in 2024, but these numbers more than doubled to 29 in 2025. Most read in Health So far into 2026, 17 ceftriaxone-resistant and 25 XDR cases have been detected, out of a total of 84 gonorrhoea infections. “Most of these cases are associated with travel to Southeast Asia,” the ECDC said in its new report. Using condoms and dental dams can lower the risk of getting an STI Credit: Getty Stay safe from gonorrhoea Gonorrhoea, often called "the clap," might not always show obvious signs, but it's important to stay vigilant. Here’s how you can keep yourself safe and spot the symptoms early: Symptoms to Watch For: In Women: Unusual vaginal discharge, pain during urination, bleeding between periods, or pelvic pain In Men: Discharge from the penis, pain while urinating, or swollen testicles In Both Genders: Sore throat (if contracted through oral sex), or rectal discomfort and discharge (if contracted through anal sex) Prevention Tips: Use Condoms: They’re your best bet for protection against gonorrhea and other STIs Get Tested Regularly: Especially if you’re sexually active or have multiple partners Communicate with Partners: Talk openly about sexual health and STI status Limit Partners: Reducing the number of sexual partners can lower your risk Seek Treatment Promptly: If you notice any symptoms or think you’ve been exposed, get tested and treated quickly But in April and May this year, a cluster of six cases “was identified within a defined sexual network with no recent international travel reported, indicating sustained domestic transmission”, the health watchdog warned. Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by bacteria. Gonorrhoea is one of the most common STIs with an estimated 82 million reported infections each year across the world. Case numbers appear to be rising in Europe and the UK. European countries reported more than 106,000 confirmed cases of the infection in 2024 – the highest notification level since the start of EU surveillance in 2009. It can cause symptoms such as burning pain and discharge, which tend to appear two weeks after having sex with an infected person. While the STI is not a killer, it can cause long-term health problems if not treated, such as pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility and ectopic pregnancies. In Sweden, sporadic ceftriaxone-resistant cases were reported between 2020 and 2024, but this increased in 2025 with nine cases identified, followed by four additional confirmed cases during the first half of 2026. In France, at least 17 MDR or XDR cases have been identified since January 2025. Germany observed a similar increase in ceftriaxone-resistant cases with seven MDR or XDR cases reported in 2025. Several other countries are reporting sporadic cases of ceftriaxone-resistant gonorrhoea. Denmark reported two cases in 2025 and one in 2026, all linked to travel. Norway reported two cases in 2026 with no reported travel history, Austria one in 2022 and one in 2025, and Ireland reported one case in2025 and another in 2024. Single cases were also reported in the Netherlands in 2025, and in Spain and Croatia this year. According to the ECDC, the surge in drug-resistant cases and “growing evidence of the domestic spread” in Europe “poses a significant challenge for future treatment options for one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases worldwide”. Csaba Ködmön, an ECDC microbiology expert, said: “Local transmission of ceftriaxone-resistant gonorrhoea in Europe is a warning sign we should not ignore. “While the risk to the general population is currently low, growing resistance reduces the effectiveness of the therapies we rely on today. “If highly drug-resistant strains become established and continue to spread, treatment options could become increasingly limited. “Strengthening prevention, expanding antimicrobial testing, and promoting timely diagnosis are therefore essential to detect resistant strains early, limit further spread, and keep gonorrhoea treatable.” The risk to people picking up drug-resistant gonorrhoea while travelling to the EU or living there is low, according to the ECDC. But sexually active people who are sleeping with multiple partners and not using protection like condoms and dental dams face a higher risk, the health watchdog warned. It did note that all reported cases of the drug resistant superbug were “successfully treated with higher-dose ceftriaxone or combination regimens”. But “the narrowing range of therapeutic options related to these strains being MDR and XDR indicate increasing challenges for clinical management”. The ECDC said messaging around safe sex and reducing STI transmission needs to improve. People with new or casual sexual partners should also be encouraged to get regular testing. Comment now