A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY, DETERMINING THE LEVELS OF REPORTED CONFIRMED GONORRHOEA CASES IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES FROM 2001 – 2023

Gonorrhoea is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) observed in all continents caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
This research was aimed at understanding the continental status of Gonorrhoea in Europe. Data was obtained from the atlas on the site of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) surveillance atlas of infectious diseases. Using specific parameters, data was obtained for the years 2001 – 2023.
Results showed that Gonorrhoea reported cases was higher in Northern Europe compared to Southern Europe from 2011-2023. The Netherlands and France showed a steady increase in Gonorrhoea reported confirmed cases within the first decade at a rate of two folds and eight folds respectively. A further fourfold increase observed in Netherlands from 2011-2023, While France had over threefold increase within same duration.
These increases within each period analysed poses a threat as it could mean a possible similar increase in the present decade in both countries. Thus, detailed analysis is required to ascertain factors predisposing to this multiplying increase and strategies/new policies tackling the Gonorrhoea rate must be deployed to foster healthier nations.
Of particular epidemiological interest is the country of Romania that showed a continuous decline over the years analysed. Which is a key finding in this research. Thus, the strategies, policies and therapeutic measures applied in Romania needs to be studied to determine how the spread of Gonorrhoea was curtailed.