Alarm over rise of drug-defying STD
Outbreak triggers nationwide health alert
DOCTORS have been put on high alert for a super- strain of drugresistant gonorrhoea.
There has been an outbreak of the sexually transmitted disease, which is impervious to one of the main treatments, in the North of England.
But experts say it has been detected ‘across the country’, i ncluding the South West, South East and London. Some 16 patients, all heterosexual, have been diagnosed in the North so far, but it is feared many more are infected.
With gonorrhoea capable of causing infertility and fatal blood infections, a national alert has been issued.
Public Health England has warned doctors not to be complacent – and a leading consultant said the outbreak ‘bodes very ill for the future’.
The highly resistant strain was first spotted in Leeds in March, and spread to Macclesfield, Oldham and Scunthorpe.
With many cases not display- ing symptoms, there are fears some people will not know they are infected and will unwittingly pass on the disease.
Dr Peter Greenhouse, a sexual health consultant in Bristol, said: ‘[16] doesn’t sound like an awful lot of people but the implication is that there is a lot more of this strain out there and we need to stamp it out as quickly as possible.
‘If it becomes the predominant strain we’re in big trou- ble, so we have to be meticulous in making sure each of these individuals has all their contacts traced and treated.’
He added: ‘It just happens that it has all come together i n Leeds but … there have been a lot more cases across the country … [It] will probably hit us much harder in two or three years’ time.’
Dr Jan Clarke, of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, said the outbreak was ‘sufficiently serious’ to warn clinics nationally, adding: ‘We are skating on thin ice.’
The alert was raised when one of the two first- choice antibiotics for gonorrhoea – azithromycin – was found not to be working.
Dr Clarke said: ‘It left us with only one suitable choice to treat them. This is extremely worrying.’ She warned doctors may have to prescribe older and more toxic drugs, and stressed that those who spot symptoms must get tested.
Those who do not want to attend sexual health clinics can buy testing kits in pharmacies or online.
But up to three-quarters of cases in women and ten per cent in men show no symptoms. Natika Halil, of the Family Planning Association, said: ‘This current outbreak is a clear reminder of why using condoms is so important.’
Dr Mike Gent, a Public Health England consultant, said: ‘The bacteria that cause gonorrhoea are known to mutate and develop new resistance, so we cannot afford to be complacent. Healthcare professionals … have been asked to be vigilant to further cases.’