Sex infection cases increase by 6%
Updated on 15 July 2008
Health experts issued a stark warning to young people as figures showed a rise in the number of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) being diagnosed across the UK.
There has been a 6% increase in the number of sexual transmitted infections (STIs) newly diagnosed in the UK, figures showed.
There were 397,990 new STIs diagnosed in UK Gum (genito-urinary medicine) clinics in 2007 - up on the 375,843 cases in 2006.
The report, from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) showed that young people aged 16 to 24 continued to be most affected, accounting for around half of all newly-diagnosed STIs in the UK.
New cases of genital herpes rose 20% while there was a 7% rise in genital warts and chlamydia. New cases of gonorrhoea fell 1%, while there was also a small decline in syphilis of 0.2%.
Young women aged 16 to 19 accounted for the highest number of cases of chlamydia and genital warts in 2007. Among men, the infections were most prevalent among those aged 20 to 24.
Professor Peter Borriello, director of the HPAs centre for infections, said: "It's increasingly the case that among young people a casual shag is part of the territory, it's part of life.
"Increasingly a shag now stands for syphilis, herpes, anal warts and gonorrhoea.
"If you are going to go swimming, dive into the pool, make sure you know how to swim, be safe.
"That really means wear a condom."
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