Woman becomes first person to catch worst ever case of ‘super gonorrhoea’ in the UK – raising fears of outbreak
It is one of two cases that are linked to Europe, with one having caught the disease here in the UK
A WOMAN has picked up the worst ever case of "super gonorrhoea" in the UK, health bosses are warning.
She's one of two cases of the drug-resistant STI recently diagnosed, Public Health England revealed.
It marks the first time someone has picked up the drug-resistant "super" STI in the UK itself.
Last year, a Brit bloke became the first to catch the infection - but picked it up while on holiday in Asia.
One of the women caught the STI at home, while the other is thought to have become infected while in Europe.
Experts warned it's a sign the "super-gonorrhoea" is more prevalent in the UK population than ever before - sparking fears of a more widespread outbreak.
It reinforces the importance of practising safe sex, health bosses warned.
Public Health England urged people to use condoms consistently and correctly with all new and casual sexual partners.
And added that anyone with symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or who is concerned they may have an STI should seek advice from their sexual health clinic.
Both women have been successfully treated for their "super gonorrhoea", but Public Health England is desperately trying to follow up their sexual contacts to minimise any risk of further transmission.
Medics found that both had a form of gonorrhoea that was resistant to the usual treatment.
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
Although unusual, there have been cases in other countries.
Last year, two Australians caught the highly contagious sexually transmitted infection while on holiday in south-east Asia, before a British bloke became the first here to get infected in May.
The two antibiotics typically used to treat the bug have been powerless to stop the super-strain, health officials warned.
A European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control report published last year saying: "The control of gonorrhoea depends on primary prevention, including promoting safer sex practices (in particular the use of condoms), regular testing of individuals at risk as well as treatment with effective antibiotics to reduce the chance of further transmission.
"Even a small change in drug resistance may have a broader impact as those infected can continue to transmit the infection without knowing.
"Spread of extensively drug-resistant strains like the ones identified in the UK and Australia can have an even more serious impact on the control of gonorrhoea."
PHE actively monitors, and acts on, the spread of antibiotic resistance in gonorrhoea and potential treatment failures, and has introduced enhanced surveillance to identify and manage resistant strains of infection promptly to help reduce further spread.
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.
Dr Nick Phin, Deputy Director of the National Infection Service at Public Health England, said: “Although these two cases of extensively resistant gonorrhoea have been successfully treated, contact tracing is underway to ensure there is no onward spread.
"This is a timely reminder of the importance of avoiding getting or passing on gonorrhoea. Everyone can substantially reduce their risk by using condoms consistently and correctly with all new and casual partners. Anyone who thinks they may have been at risk of getting an STI should seek an STI screen at a sexual health clinic.”
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