Gonorrhoea up 63%

IN WHAT almost amounts to an epidemic-proportion flare, gonorrhoea and syphilis diagnoses are increasing in Australia, with the former up 63% over the past three years, according to the latest Annual Surveillance Report on HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmissible infections (STIs) in Australia, released by the Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney.

The same report, on the other hand, revealed that HIV is stable, and between Mar and Dec 2016, an estimated 30,434 people have been cured of hepatitis C due to the availability of new direct acting antiviral therapy for hepatitis C.

The rise in gonorrhoea was reported as particularly prevalent among young heterosexual people in major cities.

Kirby Institute head of the Surveillance, Evaluation and Research Program Associate Professor Rebecca Guy said, “Up until recently, gonorrhoea had been uncommon in young heterosexual people living in major cities.

“Rising rates in this group highlight the need for initiatives to raise awareness among clinicians and young people about the importance of testing,” Guy said.

The report also shows that over the past five years hepatitis B diagnoses have declined by 27% in people aged less than 25 years, reflecting the impact of the infant and adolescent vaccination programs.

The full ‘Annual Surveillance Report’ will be officially launched at the Australasian HIV & AIDS and Sexual Health conference in Canberra tomorrow.