Spanish health authorities have issued a sexually transmitted infection (STI) warning, as cases in the last year surge. The rates of STIs across the nation are at their highest since 1995 and are particularly bad in the Canary Islands.

Popular with tourists, the islands include the likes of Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote. According to Canarian Weekly, the Ministry of Health says the Canary Islands recorded 33.47 cases of syphilis, which can be fatal, per 100,000 inhabitants last year.

This is followed by Madrid with 25.93, Catalonia (including Barcelona) 24.75 and the Balearic Islands (including the likes of Mallorca and Ibiza) with 24.67. In 2022, the overall statistics for STIs showed a concerning rise in occurrences.

There was a notable increase in gonorrhoea infections, escalating from 14,862 instances the year prior, to 23,333 cases. In a similar trend, the number of chlamydia infections climbed from 20,638 to 26,518 within the same timeframe.

Across the board, men are far more likely to get an STI when compared with women. In Spain, males had a syphilis case rate of 31.32 per 100,000, compared to just 3.73 women. The most affected age group was those aged 25 to 34 with a massive rate of 48.68 per 100,000.

How you get syphilis

The most common way of getting syphilis is by having unprotected sex (vaginal, anal or oral sex without a condom) with someone who's infected, according to the NHS. You can also get it through sharing needles when taking drugs and you can even pass it on to your unborn baby during pregnancy.

How to avoid getting syphilis

To maximise your chances of not getting syphilis, use condoms or dental dams during sexual activity, including oral, vaginal, and anal sex. While condoms significantly reduce the risk, they do not eliminate it entirely, as syphilis can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact with a syphilis sore. You should also get regularly tested for STIs at a sexual health clinic.

Syphilis symptoms

The NHS states the following as common syphilis symptoms:

  • small sores (ulcers) on your penis, vagina, or around your bottom
  • sores in other areas, including in your mouth or on your lips, hands or bottom
  • white or grey warty growths most commonly on your penis, vagina or around your anus
  • a rash on the palms of your hands and soles of your feet that can sometimes spread all over your body – this is not usually itchy
  • white patches in your mouth
  • flu-like symptoms, such as a high temperature, headaches and tiredness
  • swollen glands
  • patchy hair loss on the head, beard and eyebrows

If you think you might have the STI, then contact your GP or nearest sexual health clinic as soon as possible.