General
Major increase in global STI rates spark WHO concern
A new report released by the World Health Organisation (WHO), has found that HIV, viral hepatitis epidemics and sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) are causing 2.5 million deaths a year around the world.
The alarming data has shown that incidences of STIs are increasing in many regions, despite concerted efforts by governments and health agencies to tackle these infection rates.
Of note are increased infections from four curable STIs – syphilis (Treponema pallidum), gonorrhea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae), chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis), and trichomoniasis (Trichomonas vaginalis). Together, these four STIs account for over 1 million infections daily.
The data has also shown an increase in cases if multi-resistant gonorrhoea, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
Further, new HIV infections have only reduced from 1.5 million in 2020 to 1.3 million in 2022.
Dr Tedris Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that the rising incidence of some STIs were a cause for “major concern”, however he was optimistic noting developments in the diagnosis and treatment of many of these infections.
“There has been important progress on a number of fronts including in accelerating access to critical health commodities,“ Dr Ghebreyesus said.
“We have the tools required to end these epidemics as public health threats by 2030, but we now need to ensure that, in the context of an increasingly complex world, countries do all they can to achieve the ambitious targets they set themselves,” he added.
The contents of the report, including the progress of implementation held within it, will be a subject of discussion at the 77th World Health Assembly.