Health experts have issued an urgent warning to British travellers following a rise in "difficult-to-treat" sexually transmitted infections (STIs) linked to international travel. The alert, part of spring travel advice from Travel Health Pro, highlights an increase in antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea cases among UK holidaymakers.
The infections have been connected to popular tourist destinations in the Asia-Pacific region, including Cambodia, China, Thailand and Vietnam. Drug-resistant gonorrhoea has also been confirmed in UK travellers returning from mainland Europe. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has backed the warning, noting a "concerning upward trend" in these so-called 'super-gonorrhoea' infections.
Travel Health Pro advises holidaymakers to practise safer sex, stating it is "just as important as applying insect repellent or sunscreen on holiday." The agency recommends carrying condoms and using them consistently with all new or casual partners. The UKHSA echoed this, urging travellers to use condoms correctly and consistently.
Gonorrhoea symptoms typically appear around two weeks after infection, though some may not experience symptoms for months. According to the NHS, symptoms can include pain in the lower abdomen in women, and the infection can affect other parts of the body that come into contact with semen or vaginal fluid. The NHS advises taking steps to avoid infection and transmission.
