Urgent warning…

Prior to 2022, only 9 cases of the strain had ever been detected in England.

UKHSA figures show there were about 54,965 total gonorrhoea diagnoses at sexual health services in the first 9 months of 2024.

This compares to more than 85,000 in the whole of 2023, which was the highest number since records began in 1918.

However, as many people with gonorrhoea do not show any symptoms, many thousands more could be infected than official figures suggest.

Some studies, cited by the NHS, state that almost half of women and one in 10 men infected with gonorrhoea are symptom-less and unaware they have the infection.

Dr Katy Sinka, head of UKHSA’s STI section, said: ‘Gonorrhoea is becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics, which could make it untreatable in future.

‘If left untreated, it can cause serious problems like pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility.’

Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacteria that causes gonorrhoea, appears on the UKHSA’s list of viruses and bacteria which pose the greatest threat to public health.

Dr Sinka added: ‘The best way to stop STIs is by using a condom.

‘If you’ve had condomless sex with a new or casual partner, get tested, whatever your age, gender or sexual orientation. This includes when you are having sex abroad.

‘Early detection not only protects your health but prevents transmission to others. Many STIs show no symptoms, which is why regular testing is so important.

‘Testing is quick, free and confidential.’

British medics have seen the drugs they can use to treat gonorrhoea diminish over time.

Doctors used to prescribe the antibiotic ciprofloxacin to treat the STI.

But in 2005 it was no longer recommended as a treatment because the bacteria had become resistant.

Another antibiotic — cefixime — was also dropped for treating gonorrhoea in 2011 after the bacteria again developed a resistance to it.