The British Health Authority (UKHSA) is warning of a potentially significant increase in antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea in England. So far, most cases of the sexually transmitted infection are considered to be quickly and easily treatable.
Gonorrhea is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases. – Pictured: Neisseria gonorrhoeae in a Gram stain. (Public Domain)But now, due to the recently confirmed illnesses, there is growing concern that established forms of therapy are increasingly falling behind. Hence the obvious decision by the experts to raise the alarm early – despite the overall number of cases still being very manageable.
“We believe a comprehensive response is needed despite the low number of cases,” Dr. Hamish Mohammed, one of the UKHSA’s leading epidemiologists, said in an interview on the subject this week.
“Every case is one too many. Antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea is a global public health problem, so it is important to significantly limit transmission in the UK,” he continued.
Specifically, between June 2022 and May 2024, UKHSA scientists repeatedly identified unusual cases of diseases in England that were no longer treated with the commercially available antibiotic ceftriaxone.
The number of critical cases is likely to rise significantly soon
If left untreated, gonorrhea can lead to serious health problems, including infertility. So far, all cases found have been in heterosexual people. Most of them were in their 20s and, according to BBC infected abroad.
The UKHSA is now working to process samples from across the country to monitor in detail different strains and anything that individual clinics cannot fully diagnose. In short, the critical case numbers are likely to rise significantly soon.
The new procedure is intended to help identify cases more quickly and clearly so that sexual partners can be tracked down. This would be the most effective way to prevent uncontrollable spread. As already described: every case counts.
Background: In 2023, more than 85,000 cases of gonorrhoea were reported in England, the highest number since records began. The British health system appears to be doing everything it can to keep case numbers manageable.
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