A drug-resistant strain of gonorrhoea is spreading across England and could soon become untreatable, health professionals have warned.
An outbreak of super-gonorrhoea in Leeds last year triggered a national health alert. The sexually transmitted infection has since been detected in the West Midlands, London and southern England.
The disease, which is spread through unprotected vaginal, oral and anal sex, is typically treated with ceftriaxone and azithromycin, but the latter has become almost useless against the infection.
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"If it becomes resistant to [the other one], we would be in a very difficult position," says Dr Elizabeth Carlin, the president of the British Association of Sexual Health and HIV.
While just 34 cases have been officially confirmed in laboratory testing, "this is likely to be the tip of the iceberg" of an infection that can be symptomless, says the BBC.
The NHS warns that around one in ten infected men and almost half of infected women don't experience any symptoms. If left untreated, the disease can cause infertility and miscarriage.
"We cannot afford to be complacent," said Dr Gwenda Hughes, the head of Public Health England. The outbreak has prompted fresh warning for people across the country to practice safe sex.
Gonorrhoea was previously only detected in heterosexual patients, but has since spread to gay men.
"The problem is [they] tend to spread infections a lot faster simply as they change partners more quickly," said Peter Greenhouse, a consultant in sexual health.
The spread of this latest super-disease "is further evidence of the growing threat of antibiotic-resistant bugs," says the Daily Mail. "For decades, antibiotics have been so overused by GPs and hospital staff that the bacteria have evolved to become resistant."
'Super-gonorrhoea': health alert over Leeds outbreak
18 September
Highly drug-resistant gonorrhoea has been detected in the north of England, triggering a national health alert.
There have been 12 confirmed cases of "super-gonorrhoea" in Leeds and four in Macclesfield, Oldham and Scunthorpe. Further undiagnosed cases are likely, sexual health doctors told the BBC.
"It doesn't sound like an awful lot of people, but the implication is there's a lot more of this strain out there and we need to stamp it out as quickly as possible," said consultant Peter Greenhouse.
The sexually-transmitted infection has easily been treated with antibiotics in the past but doctors warn that the current outbreak shows it is becoming increasingly resistant to treatment.
"Those affected are being treated with an alternative antibiotic, but the resistance to first-line treatment remains a concern," said Dr Mike Gent from Public Health England.
"The bacteria that cause gonorrhoea are known to mutate and develop new resistance, so we cannot afford to be complacent."
Gonorrhoea is the second most common bacterial STI in the UK after Chlamydia, with almost 35,000 cases reported in England last year. The majority of cases are seen in people below the age of 25.
The disease is spread through unprotected sex and symptoms include a thick green or yellow discharge from the vagina or penis, pain when urinating and bleeding between periods.
However, the NHS warns that around 1 in 10 infected men and almost half of infected women don't experience any symptoms.
If left untreated, the disease can lead to infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease and can be passed from mother to child during pregnancy.
"If this becomes the predominant strain in the UK we're in big trouble," said Dr Greenhouse," so we have to be really meticulous in making sure each of these individuals has all their contacts traced and treated."
