BurfordTJustice
2018-08-08 12:57:22 UTC
Super gonorrhoea OUTBREAK worsens as new strains emerge - and there is NO
CURE
Two completely drug-resistant versions of the venereal disease have been
found and identified - with fears rampant unprotected sex could rigger an
epidemic.
Doctors have been unable to treat patients with antibiotic ceftriaxone and
azithromycin.
And sufferers have been left with a gonorrhoea - also known as the clap -
infection that causes extreme pain during urination.
Australia's federal government has issued a report warning of the risk of
the "continuing threat of antimicrobial resistance by dangerous bacteria".
Officials added another five strains of gonorrhoea have been found which
have "high level resistance" to treatments.
SUPER GONORRHEOA: Doctors fear two untreatable strains and five resistant
strains
"To prevent sexually transmitted infections, either to yourself or others,
it is best to practice safe sex."
John Turnidge
Professor John Turnidge, the senior medical adviser with the Australian
Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, said people need to take
more care during sex.
He said: "To prevent sexually transmitted infections, either to yourself or
others, it is best to practice safe sex.
"Safe sex includes using a condom or dental dam to ensure that you do not
pass an infection on to your partner."
Doctors revealed the seven new gonorrhoea strains in their biannual report
for the National Alert System for Critical Antimicrobial Resistance.
SAFE SEX: Couples were urged to take precautions to avoid super gonorrhoea
The report reads: "The detection of these strains is concerning because of
the potential for gonorrhoea to cause a community outbreak of sexually
transmitted infections."
Around 38% of cases of drug resistant infections in Australia are found to
be gonorrhoea.
It said: "For the first time, two extensively drug resistant gonorrhoeae
infections have been reported in Australia, following a report in the United
Kingdom of a similar strain.
"These infections are unable to be treated with the recommended treatments
of ceftriaxone and azithromycin."
DANGEROUS: Super gonorrhoea has been reported in Australia, Asia and Britain
Tourists are feared to be spreading super gonorrhoea after a UK man became
the world's first to be diagnosed with the drug resistant infection after a
holiday in Asia.
Gonorrhoea is spread through all forms of sex and can leave women infertile
if untreated.
World Health Organisation officials raised concerns two years ago that the
STI could become immune to antibiotics in a "matter of years".
Fears of a super gonorrhoea spread were raised early this year, when two
cases were diagnosed in what doctors described as a "shot across the bow".
STI: Gonorrhoea can be symptomless and leave women infertile
More than 78 million people a year are infected with gonorrhoea worldwide,
with only chlamydia and genital warts being more common STIs.
And worryingly the infection does not always cause symptoms - so it can
regularly go untreated.
Unusual discharge from the penis or vagina are the most common signs and it
can also lead to pelvic inflammatory disease.
Chief Medical Officer Dame Sally Davies has previously written to GPs
warning that gonorrhoea could become an "untreatable disease".
CURE
Two completely drug-resistant versions of the venereal disease have been
found and identified - with fears rampant unprotected sex could rigger an
epidemic.
Doctors have been unable to treat patients with antibiotic ceftriaxone and
azithromycin.
And sufferers have been left with a gonorrhoea - also known as the clap -
infection that causes extreme pain during urination.
Australia's federal government has issued a report warning of the risk of
the "continuing threat of antimicrobial resistance by dangerous bacteria".
Officials added another five strains of gonorrhoea have been found which
have "high level resistance" to treatments.
SUPER GONORRHEOA: Doctors fear two untreatable strains and five resistant
strains
"To prevent sexually transmitted infections, either to yourself or others,
it is best to practice safe sex."
John Turnidge
Professor John Turnidge, the senior medical adviser with the Australian
Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, said people need to take
more care during sex.
He said: "To prevent sexually transmitted infections, either to yourself or
others, it is best to practice safe sex.
"Safe sex includes using a condom or dental dam to ensure that you do not
pass an infection on to your partner."
Doctors revealed the seven new gonorrhoea strains in their biannual report
for the National Alert System for Critical Antimicrobial Resistance.
SAFE SEX: Couples were urged to take precautions to avoid super gonorrhoea
The report reads: "The detection of these strains is concerning because of
the potential for gonorrhoea to cause a community outbreak of sexually
transmitted infections."
Around 38% of cases of drug resistant infections in Australia are found to
be gonorrhoea.
It said: "For the first time, two extensively drug resistant gonorrhoeae
infections have been reported in Australia, following a report in the United
Kingdom of a similar strain.
"These infections are unable to be treated with the recommended treatments
of ceftriaxone and azithromycin."
DANGEROUS: Super gonorrhoea has been reported in Australia, Asia and Britain
Tourists are feared to be spreading super gonorrhoea after a UK man became
the world's first to be diagnosed with the drug resistant infection after a
holiday in Asia.
Gonorrhoea is spread through all forms of sex and can leave women infertile
if untreated.
World Health Organisation officials raised concerns two years ago that the
STI could become immune to antibiotics in a "matter of years".
Fears of a super gonorrhoea spread were raised early this year, when two
cases were diagnosed in what doctors described as a "shot across the bow".
STI: Gonorrhoea can be symptomless and leave women infertile
More than 78 million people a year are infected with gonorrhoea worldwide,
with only chlamydia and genital warts being more common STIs.
And worryingly the infection does not always cause symptoms - so it can
regularly go untreated.
Unusual discharge from the penis or vagina are the most common signs and it
can also lead to pelvic inflammatory disease.
Chief Medical Officer Dame Sally Davies has previously written to GPs
warning that gonorrhoea could become an "untreatable disease".