Medics sound alarm over community’s sexual health

Sexually transmitted infections are on the rise in Bath and North East Somerset.

New figures from Public Health England reveal that there were 1,140 new cases of STIS diagnosed across the area in 2019.

That’s up from 1,005 cases in 2018, and the highest number seen since 2012 when the figures began.

In particular, new cases of gonorrhoea are up by 64 per cent in the last year, with the number of new diagnoses rising from 59 in 2018 to 97 in 2019.

Cases of herpes are up 23 per cent from 70 to 86, cases of syphilis are up 15 per cent from 13 to 15, cases of chlamydia are up 13 per cent from 531 to 599, and cases of warts are down 7 per cent from 205 to 190.

PHE said the overall rise in STIS is likely to be due to people not using condoms correctly and consistently with new and casual partners, as well as an increase in testing.

The 1,140 new cases diagnosed in Bath and North East Somerset in 2019 works out as 59 for every 10,000 people - a lower rate than the national average.

Across England, there were 468,342 new diagnoses last year, or 83 for every 10,000 people.

The number of new STIS diagnosed nationally is up from 447,522 cases in 2018 - and a significant increase in gonorrhoea diagnoses in particular has prompted health officials to warn of the need to practise safe sex.

The number of gonorrhoea cases detected across the country rose by 26 per cent in the last year, rising from 56,232 new diagnoses to 70,936.

New cases of syphilis are up by 10 per cent from 7,260 to 7,982, cases of chlamydia are up 5 per cent from 218,881 to 229,411, cases of herpes are up 2 per cent from 33,734 to 34,570 and warts are down 11 per cent from 57,311 to 51,274.

Dr Hamish Mohammed, national lead for sexually transmitted infection surveillance at Public

Health England, said: “The considerable rise of gonorrhoea cases in England, as well as the continued rise of other STIS, is concerning.

“It is important to emphasise that STIS can pose serious consequences to health – both your own and that of current and future sexual partners. We have seen that gonorrhoea has become more resistant to antibiotics and expect to see further cases of antibioticresistant gonorrhoea in the future, which will be challenging for healthcare professionals to manage.

“The consistent and correct use of condoms with new and casual sexual partners is the best defence against all STIS.

“If you have had sex without a condom with a new or casual partner, you should get tested.”

Those at risk of STIS can still access services through sexual health clinics during the Covid-19 pandemic

Many clinics offer online testing, which means people can order tests using clinic websites, take them in the privacy of their own home and send kits off to a laboratory for testing, and receive results via text, phone call or post.