Syphilis Cases in Germany Hit Record High, Report Shows

Syphilis infections have seen a 460% increase since 2001, according to the newest data from the Robert Koch Institute.

The count of syphilis infections in Germany has reached a new peak, totaling 9,519 cases in 2024, a sharp rise from only 1,697 cases at the start of the century, as indicated by the most recent report from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).

This sexually transmitted infection, which is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum, has seen a consistent rise over the last two decades. Following a surge to 3,364 cases in 2004, the figures have continued their upward trend, especially among men who have sex with men (MSM) and men who have sex with transgender women.

The most recent Epidemiologisches Bulletin, released on Thursday, documented a further 3.9% year-over-year increase compared to 2023. The LGBTQ community constituted the vast majority of these infections, with women making up just 7.6% of the cases. A minor increase in heterosexual transmission was also observed from the preceding year.

The typical age of individuals affected was approximately 41, and repeat infections continue to pose an ongoing threat. The RKI emphasized that the greatest infection rates were found in prominent urban areas such as Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Frankfurt, and Munich.

A substantial portion of the overall increase since the late 1990s has been fueled by outbreaks among gay men. Hamburg recorded the initial notable rise in 1997. By 2003, the infection rate among men was ten times that of women.

Presently, roughly three-quarters of reported instances are associated with the LGBTQ community, and available data indicates that up to half of these patients also have HIV, frequently alongside co-infections of hepatitis C.