Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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November 19, 2025 Healthcare
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Wednesday that gonorrhea, one of the most common sexually transmitted infections worldwide, is increasingly becoming resistant to antibiotics. New data from the global EGASP program show that conventional treatments are losing their effectiveness, and the infection is spreading faster and more widely.
Growing Resilience and the Geography of the Problem
Between 2022 and 2024, resistance to key gonorrhea treatments—ceftriaxone and cefixime—increased severalfold. Previously, isolated cases were reported, but now the rates have reached five and 11 percent, respectively. Particularly alarming data has emerged from Cambodia and Vietnam, where the highest resistance rates are being recorded.
Global cooperation and new challenges
The WHO emphasizes that the expansion of the number of countries participating in the EGASP program in recent years is a positive step. This international initiative, launched by the WHO in 2015, collects laboratory and clinical data from surveillance centers worldwide for global analysis and the development of treatment recommendations.
In 2024, 12 countries, including Brazil, India, South Africa, and Sweden, provided their national data. These countries recorded more than 3,500 cases of gonorrhea, half of which were in the Western Pacific region.
Who is at risk?
The average age of patients was 27, but ranged from teenagers to the elderly. One in five cases involved men who have sex with men, and almost half of the patients reported multiple sexual partners in the past month. Additional risk factors included recent antibiotic use and international travel.
Why is this important?
The WHO warns that if antibiotic resistance continues to grow, the world could face a situation where conventional treatments no longer work. This would make gonorrhea one of the most dangerous infections of the 21st century. The organization calls on countries to strengthen surveillance, develop diagnostics, and ensure access to new treatments to stop the spread of the disease.
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