#Syphilis

A devastating sexually transmitted infection once nearly eliminated by modern medicine has returned with alarming force across developed nations, while antibiotic-resistant strains of gonorrhea create unprecedented treatment challenges that threaten to overwhelm healthcare systems and devastate vulnerable populations worldwide.

Syphilis infections have surged dramatically across numerous high-income countries, with public health agencies documenting relentless increases since the early 2000s that show no signs of abating. This resurgence represents a catastrophic failure of prevention programs and reveals dangerous gaps in sexual health education, testing accessibility, and treatment coordination.

A dual STI crisis is emerging in Thailand, threatening hard-won gains in sexual and reproductive health. Syphilis cases are climbing again, while antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea challenges current treatment norms. Public health officials warn that urbanization, changing social patterns, and evolving sexual behavior could accelerate transmission among high-risk populations.

According to international surveillance, these trends require immediate attention. The consequences are grave: syphilis can harm pregnant women and unborn babies, and drug-resistant gonorrhea risks turning a previously manageable infection into a persistent health burden for individuals and the health system. Thailand must respond with streamlined testing, effective treatment, and culturally sensitive outreach.

A common sexually transmitted infection has returned to many countries.
The infection can cause serious illness, birth complications, and social harm.

Syphilis rates have risen again in several high-income countries.
Public health agencies report steady increases since the early 2000s (BBC report).

The BBC released a short explainer titled “The STI that’s back and all you need to know”.
The video highlights rising syphilis numbers and growing concerns about resistant gonorrhoea (BBC video).

Sexually transmitted infections are rising among older Europeans. This trend could affect Thailand through travel and ageing demographics.

Health authorities report rising diagnoses of gonorrhoea, chlamydia, and syphilis in people aged 45 and older. The trend appears across the UK, France, Denmark, and the EU (ECDC, UKHSA) (ECDC syphilis report 2023; UKHSA STI data tables 2014-2023).

The number of common bacterial STI diagnoses in Britons aged 65 and over rose sharply from 2014 to 2023. UK figures show 576 diagnoses in 2014 and 1,649 in 2023 for gonorrhoea, chlamydia, and syphilis combined (UKHSA data).

As Thailand’s population ages and international travel resumes post-pandemic, a troubling trend emerging across Europe demands immediate attention from Thai health authorities. Sexually transmitted infections are surging among Europeans aged 45 and older, presenting a clear warning for Thailand’s own rapidly aging society.

Recent surveillance data from European health authorities reveals alarming increases in bacterial STIs among older adults. In the United Kingdom alone, diagnoses of gonorrhoea, chlamydia, and syphilis in people over 65 nearly tripled between 2014 and 2023, jumping from 576 cases to 1,649 cases. This dramatic rise reflects a continent-wide pattern that has caught public health experts off guard.

Aging populations and increased international travel are shaping new health risks for Thailand. Recent European data show rising sexually transmitted infections among adults aged 45 and older, a pattern that could foreshadow similar trends in Thailand as it becomes an aging society and welcomes more visitors and students from abroad.

Data from European health authorities indicate that gonorrhoea, chlamydia, and syphilis diagnoses among people over 65 nearly tripled from 2014 to 2023 in the United Kingdom, rising from 576 to 1,649 cases. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control notes that adults aged 45 and above now account for about one-third of syphilis cases across the European Union. This shift challenges traditional assumptions about who is at risk for STIs and underscores the need for inclusive prevention.

A recent Guardian report highlights a sharp rise in syphilis cases in the United States, a crisis intensified by a controversial decision during the Trump era to close a key federal STI laboratory within the CDC. The move has come under renewed scrutiny as syphilis infections reach record highs. For Thailand, the story underscores the vital need for sustained investment in public health infrastructure and offers practical lessons for local disease prevention strategies.

A recent report by The Guardian has drawn attention to a dramatic surge in syphilis cases in the United States, a public health crisis made worse by a decision during the Trump administration to shutter a key federal Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) laboratory within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) The Guardian. This controversial move, now under sharp scrutiny, has come at a pivotal moment as syphilis infections in the US hit record highs. For Thailand, this development is a stark warning of the critical importance of sustained investment in public health infrastructure—and offers valuable insights into local disease prevention strategies.