Eurosurveillance - Volume 17, Issue 29, 19 July 2012

In Germany, syphilis is notified anonymously. In 2011, 3,698 cases (incidence 4.5/100,000 inhabitants) were notified, an increase of 22% over 2010. The increase was higher in men (23%) than women (13%) and 94% of the cases were male. Information on the possible way of transmission was available for 72% of cases. Of these, 84% were men who have sex with men, who seem to play a major role in the renewed increase in syphilis cases.

Gonorrhoea incidence in Sweden continued to increase during 2007-2011, while for syphilis, there was a very minor decrease, but no clear trend. Gonorrhoea incidence increased most among heterosexually infected men and women while for syphilis, the major burden was among men who have sex with men. Neisseria gonorrhoeae resistance to first-line antimicrobials increased annually. Surveillance of infection and antimicrobial resistance along with continuous analysis are needed, to develop prevention activities to reduce risk behaviours. .

There has been a rapid rise in the number of gonorrhoea and syphilis diagnoses in England during 2011, an increase of 25% and 10% respectively. Large increases of both gonorrhoea (61%) and syphilis (28%) were observed among men who have sex with men. Although these rises can partly be attributed to increased testing, ongoing high-levels of unsafe sexual behaviour probably contributed to the rise. The rise in gonorrhoea rates is worrying in an era of decreased susceptibility to treatments.

From 1 January to 30 June 2012, 359 confirmed and 157 probable cases of measles were reported in Merseyside, England. The most affected age groups were children under five years and young adults from 15 years of age. Most cases have been sporadic. There have been few outbreaks in nurseries; however, no outbreaks have been reported in schools. Of the cases eligible for vaccination, only 3% of the confirmed cases were fully immunised.