Super gonorrhea is infecting people worldwide and ‘could become incurable’

‘Super gonorrhea’ hit the headlines after a British man contracted a case described as ‘the world’s worst’ this year – but he’s not alone, health agencies have warned.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) warns that cases of ‘extensively drug resistant’ gonorrhea are on the rise, with three new cases reported.

Australia’s government also reported two new cases – with at least one victim thought to have been infected in southeast Asia.

Experts have warned that there’s a danger that the antibiotic-resistant strains ‘could become untreatable’, IFLScience warned.

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Gonorrhoea is usually treated with a combination of the antibiotics azithromycin and ceftriaxone, but the unnamed man had a strain which was resistant to these drugs.

It was eventually treated with a different antibiotic.

Health services in the UK have recommended GPs refer all suspected cases of gonorrhoea to national health services so they can be managed appropriately.

They are recommending that anyone who contracts the disease be carefully monitored to ensure prompt diagnosis, effective treatment, partner notification and a full screen for sexually transmitted diseases.

Dr Hughes added: ‘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.’