Why it matters: Despite the local decline, health experts warn that STI levels across England remain a "big threat to sexual wellbeing", with some infections reaching historic highs and antibiotic-resistant strains emerging.
By the numbers: Suffolk's 2024 STI diagnoses included:
1,169 cases of chlamydia
281 cases of gonorrhoea
30 cases of infectious syphilis
The bigger picture: While Suffolk saw improvements, England recorded 364,750 total STI diagnoses in 2024 – an 8% drop overall. However, infectious syphilis cases rose slightly from 9,375 in 2023 to 9,535 last year.
What's concerning: Separate figures reveal 14 cases of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea have already been recorded in England in 2025, exceeding the 13 cases seen throughout all of 2024.
Dr Hamish Mohammed, consultant epidemiologist at the UK Health Security Agency, said: "Levels of STIs in this country remain a big threat to sexual wellbeing. These infections can have a major impact on your health and that of any sexual partners – particularly if they are antibiotic resistant."
What they're saying: Professor Matt Phillips, president of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, described the overall fall in diagnoses as encouraging but warned: "We nonetheless continue to see historically high rates of sexual infection, with particularly worrying continued increases in infections such as syphilis, which are at their highest-ever levels."
What to do: Health officials recommend annual STI testing for anyone having unprotected sex with new or casual partners, even without symptoms. From August, eligible people will be offered vaccination to reduce gonorrhoea risk.
The bottom line: While Suffolk's 15% drop in STI diagnoses is encouraging, health experts emphasise that regular testing and prevention remain crucial.
