STI hot spots revealed: Thousands of Queenslanders diagnosed weeks before NYE
In the lead up to the new year, thousands of Queenslanders have tested positive for sexually transmitted infections, as the state’s health authorities record a rise in cases. See which areas are experiencing higher rates of transmission here.
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Sexually transmitted infections are on the rise across the state, with above-average transmission rates recorded by Queensland Health medical facilities in the weeks leading up to Christmas and the New Year period.
The latest data released from Queensland Health shows more than 2472 Queenslanders tested positive for either chlamydia, gonorrhoea, or syphilis between November 20 and December 11.
Last week, it was reported sexually transmitted infections were running rampant throughout the state’s prison system, prompting discussions around inmate’s sexual healthcare and a need for something cheap, easy and effective: condoms.
This year chlamydia was the most common sexually transmitted infection diagnosed, with 1818 cases recorded within the four week period, followed by 549 gonorrhoea cases, and 105 syphilis cases.
Queensland’s STI cases for the year are slightly above average, with 33,874 cases reported, compared to the state’s yearly average (for the previous five years) of 29,409, which does not include test results from the remaining days of 2023.
For more information on each of these treatable and common infections, click here.
Across Queensland, the Mackay region experienced the highest spike in cases when compared to its yearly average, with 1096 syphilis cases reported in 2023 up from 308, and 216 gonorrhoea cases up from an average of 55.
According to the latest Kirby Institute report, HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexually Transmissible Infections in Australia, 2022, the nation recorded the highest number of syphilis cases in a 10 year period.
In November Queensland Health reported between 2001 and 2022, syphilis diagnoses increased seven-fold, and largely affected those in regional areas, First Nations people, and gay and bisexual men.
Notably, the less common STI has been on the rise on the Gold Coast, with 14 new cases diagnosed in the lead up to Christmas, and five new cases were also reported on the Darling Downs.
However, Queensland health services overseeing the populous Brisbane and Logan health regions (Metro North and Metro South) recorded the highest number of syphilis cases – alongside chlamydia and gonorrhoea.
Between November 20 and December 11, 428 Metro South residents tested positive for chlamydia, 140 for gonorrhoea, and 23 for syphilis, whereas Metro North reported 344 chlamydia cases, 138 gonorrhoea cases, and 24 syphilis cases.
Queensland Health encourages sexually active people to get an STI test at least once a year regardless if they practice safe sex, noting many people who test positive experience no symptoms.
Below is a breakdown of new chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and syphilis cases recently reported across the state’s health regions, and yearly case numbers:
* Note: If you’re on a desktop press Ctrl-F and type your health region into the search bar – Darling Downs (Toowoomba, Western Downs, Warwick, etc), West Moreton (Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, etc), South West (Roma etc), Metro South (Logan and surrounds), Metro North (Brisbane and surrounds), Gold Coast, Cairns, Townsville, Central Queensland, Sunshine Coast, & Mackay.
1. METRO SOUTH
The Metro South Health region takes in Stradbroke Island to the north, and includes much of Brisbane’s south, running through Logan and the Scenic Rim, ending at Mount Barney National Park on the NSW border.
A large number of residents were diagnosed with sexually transmissible infections between November 20 and December 11, with 428 chlamydia tests returning a positive reading.
So far this year, 5328 residents caught chlamydia, slightly up from an average of 4741 cases.
There were 140 gonorrhoea cases reported over the four day period, however for the year to date there were 1587 cases, which was up from an average of 1275.
Syphilis cases were also above average for the region with 23 recent cases, and 367 cases YTD up from an average of 298.
Of those syphilis cases, 75 were late diagnoses.
2. METRO NORTH
The Metro North Health region covers a large area that encompasses Brisbane, Kilcoy, Caboolture, Redcliffe, and Chermside.
Statistics from public health units showed fewer chlamydia cases were diagnosed in the region in 2023, 4653 cases, than the 4661 yearly average.
Over the four week period 344 residents tested positive for chlamydia, and 138 people tested positive for gonorrhoea.
Gonorrhoea cases were slightly higher in the region with 1633 cases reported this year, which was up from an average of 1344 cases.
Syphilis cases were also above average with 24 recent cases, and 401 YTD which was up from an average of 376 cases.
Of those syphilis cases, 64 were picked up late.
3. GOLD COAST
The most current statistics for the Gold Coast show that 38 residents tested positive to chlamydia on December 11, down from 54 cases on December 4, and 132 during the last two weeks of November.
The public health unit statistics show chlamydia cases for the YTD was 3266 cases, which is slightly up from an average of 2995 cases.
The number of gonorrhoea infections picked up over the four day period was 60, and the YTD was 927 cases up from 760 cases.
The hospital and health services statistics showed a number of Gold Coast residents also tested positive for syphilis, with 14 diagnoses made between November 20 and December 11, and for the TYD there were 206 cases, up from 153 cases.
Of those syphilis cases for 2023, 35 were picked up late, while the remaining were still infectious.
4. CAIRNS
The Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service reported 136 cases of chlamydia
between November 20 and December 11, and 2157 cases YTD which was up from an average of 1758 cases.
Gonorrhoea cases have also been higher than usual in the region, with 46 cases over the four week period, and 593 cases YTD up from an average of 430 cases.
Recently, seven syphilis cases were reported in the region, however there were only 128 cases reported for the year – below the yearly average of 133 cases.
Of those syphilis cases, 43 were late diagnoses.
5. TOWNSVILLE
Public health units across Townsville’s health catchment recently reported 140 chlamydia cases, and 2117 YTD, which is lower than the region’s yearly average of 2341.
However, Townsville Hospital and Health Services reported 1785 chlamydia cases YTD which was up from its yearly average of 1540 cases.
Gonorrhoea cases for the health catchment were higher, with 40 cases reported between November 20 and December 11, with 556 reported YTD, up from the yearly average of 450.
Seven syphilis cases were recently diagnosed, with 78 reported YTD, slightly up from the yearly average of 74 cases.
Of those syphilis cases for 2023, 27 were late diagnoses.
6. CENTRAL QUEENSLAND
The Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service region includes Gladstone and Rockhampton, spanning west past Emerald.
Public health units across the catchment reported 129 chlamydia cases over the past four weeks and 1107 YTD – up from the average of 997.
Gonorrhoea cases were tracking slightly above average for Central Queensland, with 12 cases diagnosed between November 20 and December 11.
The gonorrhoea YTD cases were 196, not far off the yearly average of 208.
Seven syphilis infections were picked up between November 20 and December 11, with 82 YTD, up from an average of 46.
7. WEST MORETON
The West Moreton Health region covers the Somerset, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, and Scenic Rim regions.
The large geographical area, which includes the state’s fasting growing LGA (Ipswich), recorded 108 chlamydia infections over the past four weeks.
Public health units across West Moreton recorded 1549 chlamydia cases TYD, up from 1343.
Over the past four weeks, 38 gonorrhoea infections were also recorded, and for the TYD 420, up from a yearly average of 326.
Only one syphilis infection was reported over the four week period, although YTD there have been 75 diagnoses made, up from the yearly average of 43.
8. SUNSHINE COAST
Statistics from public clinics across the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service reported 107 chlamydia cases between November 20 and December 11, and 1532 YTD slightly up from an average of 1412 cases.
Gonorrhoea case statistics show 21 residents were diagnosed with the same four week period, with 313 cases so far this year, up from an average of 240.
Statistics from hospital services across the region show there were two recent diagnoses of syphilis, and 48 for the year, higher than an average of 31.
9. MACKAY
Chlamydia and gonorrhoea reports for the Mackay region were well above average according to the Queensland Health public health statistics.
Between November 20 and December 11, 81 residents tested positive for chlamydia, however so far in 2023, there were 1096 cases up from a yearly average of 308.
During the same time frame, 13 residents tested positive for gonorrhoea, with 216 cases reported YTD up from an average of 55.
Six syphilis cases were recently diagnosed, with 77 reported YTD, up from the yearly average of 26 cases.
Of those syphilis cases for 2023, 15 were late diagnoses.
10. DARLING DOWNS
Sexually transmissible infections were slighter higher than usual across the Darling Downs region, which includes the Western Downs and Southern Downs LGAs such as Warwick and Stanthorpe.
According to Queensland Health Public Health Unit statistics for the Darling Downs, the region experienced more chlamydia in the year to date when compared to 2022.
The PHU data showed there had been 1165 cases, up from a yearly average of 1024, with 38 Darling Downs residents diagnosed during the first 11 days of December, and 51 during the last weeks of November.
Gonorrhoea cases for the year to date were also slightly higher, 192, than the yearly average of 171, with 17 Darling Downs residents diagnosed between November 20 and December 11.
The number of residents contracting syphilis infections, 36, was also above the yearly average of 29, with Darling Downs Hospital and Health Services recording five new cases between November 20 and December 11.
11. SOUTH WEST
Chlamydia infections were also above average in the South West region – which covers areas such as Roma, Quilpie, and the Surat region – with 11 new cases diagnosed between November 20 and December 11.
The South West Hospital and Health Service statistics show 129 chlamydia cases were diagnosed YTD, up from the yearly average of 82.
The South West public health records show there were five positive test results of syphilis during 2023.
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