Switzerland has seen cases of syphilis almost double in the last decade. After being nearly eliminated, the oldest known sexually transmitted disease is making a comeback in many countries.
In response to a request from the Swiss dailyExternal linkBlick on Tuesday, the Federal Office of Public Health confirmed that the number of reported cases of syphilis increased from 616 in 2013 to 1,056 in 2022.
The same trend can be seen in several other developed countries. In the US, cases surged by 32% between 2020 and 2021 to reach the highest number of reported incidences in 70 years. In 2022, the UK saw syphilis cases reach their highest levelExternal link since 1948.
Considered the oldest sexually transmitted disease, syphilis was thought to be on the verge of being eliminated around 15-20 years ago, according to the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.
There is no single explanation at the moment for the rise in cases. Some experts suggest that poor investment in public health and lax attitudes towards safe sex after decades of campaigning during the height of the HIV era are partly to blame. “There is a lack of information, especially among younger adults who have not experienced the first HIV prevention campaigns,” writesExternal link the City Hospital Zurich.
The disease is spread through direct contact with lesions on the skin that can form in the genital region or in the mouth. An increased risk of infection exists mainly for men who have sex with men, for persons with numerous different sexual partners and in the context of prostitution, writesExternal link the Swiss public health office.
Syphilis can be treated with antibiotics if caught early. However, people often don’t get tested because the disease progresses in the early stages without symptoms.
Popular Stories
More
Climate adaptation
Why Switzerland is among the ten fastest-warming countries in the world
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
Rhine could warm by up to 4°C by 2100, scientists warn
This content was published on
The water temperature of the Rhine River could rise by up to 4.2° degrees Celsius by the end of the century due to the warming planet, scientists warn.
This content was published on
The Federal Council wants to explore the possibilities of joining the European Union’s €800-billion rearmament programme without compromising Swiss neutrality.
Defence Minister Pfister stresses importance of Swiss mission in Balkans
This content was published on
During a visit to the Balkans region last week, Swiss Defence Minister Martin Pfister met Swisscoy peacekeeping troops in Kosovo.
Premiere for Swiss Air Force on French National Day
This content was published on
On July 14, the Swiss Air Force will take part in the traditional air parade in Paris to mark the French bank holidays with an F/A-18 fighter jet. This is a first for Switzerland.
Swiss launch competition for memorial to Nazi victims
This content was published on
The victims of Nazi Germany are to be commemorated on the Casinoterrasse in Bern. A competition will be held to determine what the site will look like.
This content was published on
The cantonal police of Graubünden in eastern Switzerland have arrested and convicted five cocaine dealers in Chur within a week.
This content was published on
The Swiss business umbrella organisation Economiesuisse and the employers' association broadly support the package of agreements negotiated with the European Union.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Sexually transmitted diseases on the rise
This content was published on
Compared with 2015, the number of cases of gonorrhoea, syphilis and chlamydia have increased by 20%, 15% and 8% respectively in 2016. However, reported cases of HIV have stabilised for the second year in a row. Men constitute the majority of STI cases accounting for 79%, 89% and 78% of all reported cases of gonorrhoea, syphilis…
This content was published on
University of Zurich paleogeneticists have uncovered signs that Europeans could have been infected with the sexually transmitted disease before the 15th century.
This content was published on
Earlier this year syphilis was reinstated on the list of notifiable diseases. Other STIs, such as gonorrhoea and chlamydia, are rising steadily after being in decline for much of the 1990s. “We are not surprised by the increase because similar patterns have been observed in other countries. But maybe the size of the increase is…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.