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Germany is witnessing a sharp rise in syphilis cases, with data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) showing a record number of 9,519 cases in 2024. This represents an increase of 3.9 percent compared to 2023, which recorded 9,159 cases. This trend reflects a long-term increase, as fewer than 2,000 cases were documented nationwide when mandatory reporting began in 2001. Since then, numbers have gradually risen to exceed 5,000 cases by 2015, then declined during the COVID-19 pandemic before sharply rising again.
The vast majority of infections are still among men who have sex with men, although infections among heterosexuals rose slightly last year. Women accounted for only 7.6 percent of reported cases. The average age of those infected is 41 years. The disease is primarily transmitted through sexual contact, but it can also be transmitted from pregnant women to newborns or through blood.
Syphilis, caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum, is usually treated with penicillin, although diagnosis often comes late. Symptoms vary and may disappear only to return later in more severe stages. Early signs include the appearance of painless sores that exude highly infectious fluid. After weeks, a rash may appear, sometimes accompanied by fever, fatigue, or hair loss. If left untreated, the disease may lead to damage to blood vessels and the nervous system after years.
RKI data shows that the highest infection rates are concentrated in major cities. Berlin recorded 35.7 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants, Hamburg 30.3, Trier 45.2, Cologne 44.1, Frankfurt am Main 39.1, and Munich 36.7. In contrast, rural states like Brandenburg (4.5 cases per 100,000) and Thuringia (6.6 cases per 100,000) had the lowest levels.
There is no vaccine against syphilis, making prevention extremely important. The RKI Institute confirms that the use of condoms remains the most effective means of protection. While antibiotics remain effective even in the later stages, health experts emphasize the importance of early testing and prompt treatment to avoid long-term complications.