Overview: Tracking sexually transmitted infections in 2024
In 2024, EU/EEA member states intensified their efforts to monitor sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and to assess progress toward regional targets set for 2025. This report synthesizes data reported by EU/EEA countries, offering a snapshot of the state of play for STI prevention and control across the region. The analysis focuses on surveillance coverage, testing and diagnosis, case reporting, and the implementation of prevention strategies, with an eye toward identifying gaps and guiding policy decisions.
Data sources and methods
Public health authorities across the EU/EEA contribute data on common STIs, including gonorrhoea, chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV. The 2024 dataset reflects routine surveillance, sentinel networks, and laboratory-confirmed cases where available. The report emphasizes comparability, acknowledging variations in national reporting practices, laboratory capacity, and case definitions. Where possible, data are aligned with the EU/EEA surveillance framework to enable cross-country comparisons and trend analysis over time.
Key findings: Diagnosis, reporting, and surveillance coverage
Several consistent patterns emerged in 2024. First, testing and diagnosis rates remained uneven across countries, with higher testing volumes often concentrated in urban centers and tertiary care facilities. Second, where robust electronic reporting systems exist, timeliness of case notification improved, supporting faster public health responses. Third, case definitions and laboratory confirmation criteria influenced the comparability of national data, underscoring the need for harmonized standards to accurately track progress toward interim targets.
Gender and age demographics continued to shape the epidemic for several STIs, with young adults and men who have sex with men (MSM) frequently reported as disproportionately affected in several settings. These patterns reinforce the importance of targeted prevention, partner notification, and accessible testing services within communities at greatest risk.
Progress toward the 2025 interim targets
The European region has established interim targets aimed at reducing STI incidence, improving case reporting, expanding access to testing, and enhancing prevention. In 2024, many EU/EEA countries reported improvements in surveillance infrastructure and data completeness, which are critical foundations for measuring progress toward these targets. However, the report also highlights persistent gaps in some jurisdictions, including limited reach of anonymous testing, stigma-related barriers to care, and variability in funding for STI programs. The assessment suggests that achieving the 2025 milestones will require sustained investment in surveillance capacity, standardized reporting, and broader access to preventive services such as rapid testing, partner services, and vaccination where applicable (e.g., HPV in appropriate contexts).
Implications for policy and practice
Effective monitoring of STIs hinges on consistent data collection, timely reporting, and interoperable systems across borders. Policymakers are encouraged to prioritize harmonized surveillance definitions, expanded testing in primary care and community settings, and the integration of STI services with broader sexual and reproductive health programs. Community engagement and stigma reduction remain essential to improving testing uptake and early treatment, which in turn reduces transmission and complications.
Looking ahead
As the 2025 interim targets approach, EU/EEA countries will likely intensify cross-border collaboration, share best practices in data collection, and scale up prevention interventions supported by the latest guidance from public health authorities. Continued focus on data quality, equitable access, and privacy safeguards will help ensure that surveillance not only tracks the epidemic but also informs practical actions to protect public health.
