Major upsurge in Sexually Transmitted Infections worry nations
Global health agencies are deeply concerned about a major upsurge in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) that are causing as many as 2.5 million deaths each year.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) stated last month that new syphilis cases among adults aged 15–49 increased by over one million in 2022, reaching eight million, and there were 230,000 syphilis-related deaths. The highest increases occurred in the Americas and Africa.
The WHO said new data also showed an increase in multi-resistant gonorrhoea. In 2023, out of 87 countries where enhanced gonorrhoea antimicrobial resistance surveillance was conducted, nine reported elevated levels of resistance to the drug ceftriaxone, described as the “last line of treatment.” The WHO said it is monitoring the situation and has updated its recommended treatment in an effort to reduce its spread.
To compound the global health threats being posed by risky sexual behaviours, there has not been any significant decline in HIV infections. WHO said five key groups—men who sodomise men, people who inject drugs, sex workers, transgender individuals, and individuals in prisons and other closed settings—still experience significantly higher HIV prevalence rates than the general population.
A recent report out of the UK has indicated that the levels of gonorrhoea in England are now at the highest level since records began in 1918, and new diagnoses of syphilis are at levels not seen since 1948. According to the UK edition of the British online newspaper Independent, based on the statistics coming forward, the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) has launched a LoveGUM campaign to encourage more junior doctors to specialise in sexual health.
France also sounded the alarm earlier this year that there has been a steep rise in STIs, particularly syphilis. The number of cases has exploded, soaring by 110% between 2020 and 2022 in that country.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDPC) has also expressed concern in its latest Annual Epidemiological Reports regarding STIs in the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA).
“The findings reveal a troubling surge in cases of syphilis, gonorrhoea, and chlamydia, indicating a pressing need for heightened awareness of STI transmission, and the need to enhance robust prevention, access to testing, and effective treatment to address this public health challenge,” the EU agency reported.
The United States has not been spared the wrath of the sexual plague, which has become a public health nightmare for governments. According to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention, syphilis has now reached its highest infection rate since the 1950s. Among the more than 2.5 million cases of syphilis, gonorrhoea, and chlamydia reported nationwide, a report has shown that the total 2022 syphilis cases stood at 207,255, a number that includes congenital syphilis, which is passed from pregnant mothers to their babies.
One of the reasons being given for the upsurge of STIs is the availability of PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), a retroviral drug that is taken before any potential exposure to the HIV virus in order to help prevent contamination. According to France 24, the drug has become extremely popular in the past few years, especially among gay and bisexual men who are single. The pill is routinely offered in public hospitals to anyone reporting having had sex with more than 10 different partners in the past 12 months, regardless of whether they have had protected sex or not.
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Headline : Jamaica on alert as STI cases rise worldwide
Underline : Sexual sins have repercussions
The true state of the rising levels of sexually transmitted infections is not known in Jamaica, but Comptom Beecher, who is the chief DNA analyst at Caribbean Genetics, said that there has been a surge in the number of people being tested positive for chlamydia and gonorrhoea locally.
“I would assume that people are just not using the protection. You will find sometimes that whereas one person may know that they have something, they will get treated, and then the partner isn’t treated, and then they get re-infected, and you just have this cycle,” he told Freedom Come Rain recently.
He said some of those infected do not show any symptoms. But more people are coming in for testing, and as a result, they are learning about their status. Women are especially more willing to get tested, but once they get the results and seek the necessary treatment, they sometimes engage sexually with the same person who infected them.
“I guess we are a lot more careless now; I don’t know why. People are just not using the protection that they need to use,” he lamented.
Biologist, Dr. Patience Bazuaye-Alonge said Jamaicans need to take more responsibility for protecting themselves against STIs. As a pastor, she does not support sex out of marriage, but for those who are not Christians and engage in pre-marital sex, she said they should at least protect themselves.
“For the younger generation, we encourage them about abstinence and purity so that they too will be protected from this upsurge of sexually transmitted infections, because the young people, if they are exposed, it is going to bring them to that state of having a sexually transmitted infection, which might affect their reproductive health later down in life,” she said.
She pointed out that sexual sins and unrighteousness do have repercussions.
“As a result of sin, diseases and sicknesses will come upon humanity,” she said.
In anticipation that many people will become intimate during this summer, Paris Olympics organisers will be making 300,000 condoms available for the 14,250 athletes who will be staying in the Olympic Village. This means that each athlete will get an average of two condoms per day.
Dr. Alonge hopes athletes will keep in mind that the main focus of going to the Olympics is to represent their country. Furthermore, condoms cannot protect against the transmission of negative spirits.
“The persons that are going there for the Olympics are not going there for sexual exploitation and for sexual trysts; they are going there to do sports; they are going there to get themselves focused and to represent their nation,” she said.
“At this time, they should be encouraged to conserve their energy and keep themselves decent,” added the pastor.