Super gonorrhoea set to spread, experts warn – as Brit who first caught STI is ‘cured’
A BRITISH man diagnosed with the first case of super gonorrhoea resistant to most treatments has been cured.
The man was believed to have caught the sexually transmitted infection from a woman while on holiday in south-east Asia.
But although he has been cured, health officials are warning more cases can be expected.
The two antibiotics typically used to treat the bug were powerless to stop the super-strain, Public Health England (PHE) warned last month.
The patient was successfully treated after three days of intravenous treatment with antibiotic ertapenem, PHE announced today.
Dr Gwenda Hughes, head of PHE’s sexually transmitted infection section, said: “We are pleased to report that the case of multi-drug resistant gonorrhoea has been successfully treated.
“Investigations have also revealed there has been no further spread of this infection within the UK.”
The unnamed man discovered he had the STI after getting tested, a month after he returned from Asia earlier this year.
He told medics he had a regular partner in the UK, but did have “sexual contact” with a woman while he was away.
It is believed the man is the first person in the world to catch a strain on gonorrhoea that’s resistant to most treatments.
The man’s UK partner tested negative for the infection.
“Two similar cases have just been reported in Australia and serve as a timely reminder that we expect to see further cases of multi-drug resistant gonorrhoea in the future,” Dr Hughs said.
“These cases will be challenging for healthcare professionals to manage.
“We urge the public to avoid getting or passing on gonorrhoea by using condoms consistently and correctly with all new and casual partners.
“If you think you have been at risk, you should seek an STI screen at a sexual health clinic.”
Peter Greenhouse, of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, said the UK faces a “perfect storm”, with more people sleeping around, and Government cuts to health funding, stoking the fire.
“We have a perfect storm, just at a time when these infections are becoming seriously resistant to antibiotics,” he previously told The Sun Online.
“It is harder to get a sexual health check up, especially in London where six major clinics have had to close, and people are changing sexual partners much more frequently thanks to dating apps like Tinder and Grindr.
“”When you multiply it together, you couldn’t have planned a worst case scenario.”
HOW TO TELL IF YOU HAVE GONORRHOEA
GONORRHOEA is a sexually transmitted infection that in many cases shows very few signs.
Symptoms usually develop within two weeks of a person becoming infected, but around one in 10 men and half of women who are infected will not experience any obvious signs of the infection.
As a result, it is common for gonorrhoea to go untreated for some time.
In women, the symptoms include:
- an unusual vaginal discharge, which may be thin or watery and green or yellow in colour
- pain or a burning sensation when passing urine
- pain or tenderness in the lower abdomen
- bleeding between periods, heavier periods and bleeding after sex
In men, the signs include:
- an unusual discharge from the tip of the penis, which may be white, yellow or green
- pain or a burning sensation when peeing
- inflammation of the foreskin
- pain or tenderness in the testicles
It comes amid repeated warnings that super gonorrhoea could pose a threat as it becomes more resistant to treatment.
Last year the World Health Organisation warned antibiotic resistant strains of the STI are becoming much harder, and sometimes impossible to treat.
Dr Teodora Wi, medical officer in human reproduction at WHO, said: “The bacteria that cause gonorrhoea are particularly smart.
“Every time we use a new class of antibiotics to treat the infection, the bacteria evolve to resist them.”
About 78 million people are infected with gonorrhoea each year, according to WHO.
It is the second most common form of STI in England.
It affects the genitals, rectum and throat, producing a thick green or yellow discharge from the vagina or penis.
One in ten men and almost half of infected women will not experience any symptoms.
It can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, infertility and an increased risk of HIV.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours