People in their 20s account for nearly two-thirds of all reported cases of sexually transmitted infections, latest figures show.
According to a report from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), some 9,892 cases of STIs were notified in 2006. Of those, 65 per cent are in the 20-29 age group. Men accounted for some 63 per cent of all notified infections.
The total compares to just 3,365 in 1995. The triple-fold increase is largely explained by the increased notification of cases.
However, the real number of STIs is believed to be significantly higher than reported to the HPSC, which says it receives “very little notification” of cases from GPs, family planning clinics and other health services such as those on student campuses.
It also says it is not possible to determine the source of notifications in all instances. In addition, most of the data collected through its current surveillance system are based on reports from STI clinics, rather than on area of residence of the patient. Some HSE regions have no specialist STI clinic services.
In addition, the HPSC says there can sometimes be a time lag of up to two years between diagnosis and notification.
Three specific diseases accounted for 89 per cent of all reported infections in 2006. These were ano-genital warts (35 per cent); Chlamydia trachomatis (32 per cent); and non-specific urethritis (22 per cent).
Some 431 people were treated for gonorrhoea, which is a 26 per cent increase on the 2005 figure. The number of genital herpes infections, at 455, was up 3.2 per cent on the previous year. Syphilis fell by 53 per cent to just over 1 per cent of all notifications.
The HPSC said although the overall figure for 2006 was a decrease of 3 per cent over 2005, this was largely due to its Midwest STI clinic being unable to provide aggregate STI returns.
It recorded a jump in STI notifications of 56 per cent in the North-East, 55 per cent in the South East, 44 per cent in the Midlands and 31 per cent in the North West.
Numbers in the East rose by 0.5 per cent, while falls of 6 per cent and 2 per cent were reported in the South and West, respectively.
The HPSC is the national specialist centre for surveillance of communicable diseases. It collates, interprets and provides information on infectious diseases in Ireland.
Mary O’Shea, of the Dublin Aids Alliance, said the rise in the rate of STIs among the young population was of major concern.
“The rise in STIs . . . reinforces the fact that reinvestment in education and prevention programmes, in addition to expansion of HIV and STI screening facilities, are urgently needed,” she said.
“Initiatives are dependent on Government commitment to put HIV and sexual health on the political agenda.”
To mark Irish Aids day - which takes place on June 15th - and to tackle the growth in HIV/Aids and STIs, the Alliance recommended the Government develop a national sexual health strategy and that primary health care services be expanded to include services for STIs.
While Ms O’Shea welcomed the recent reduction of VAT on condoms from 21 per cent to 13.5 per cent, she said the tax should be “fully removed”.