There has been a major spike in gonorrhoea and other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in Ireland in the past year, according to new figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC).

Some 6,748 cases of gonorrhoea were reported up to 23 December 2023, a 70pc increase compared to the 3,976 cases recorded in 2022.

A number of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) saw an increase last year too – including chlamydia, herpes and syphilis – but gonorrhoea cases saw the most drastic change in just 12 months.

Most cases were reported by men (5,200), in particular men who have sex with other men.

According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the continent is experiencing a “concerning rise” in STIs.

While there was a decrease in reported STI cases in Ireland and other European countries during the pandemic, latest figures reveal that Ireland has one of the highest incidence rates of gonorrhoea in Europe.