The total number of patients which have been referred to the GU Clinic in 2023 for sexually transmitted infections was 7,280, information tabled in Parliament showed.

Health Minister Jo Etienne Abela replied to a parliamentary question made by PN MP Graziella Galea, where she asked Abela to divulge the number of persons who have contracted a sexually transmitted disease between the years of 2019 to 2023.

In 2023, there were 7,280 patients which were referred to the GU clinic, Abela said. He tabled a table which reports the total number of infections per year at the GU clinic.

He also tabled the number of persons diagnosed with different sexually transmitted diseases.

There were 17 cases of Sexually Transmitted Enterocolitis (Shigella, Campylobacter, E.coli) and parasites (Giardia) in 2023. Additionally, there were 80 cases of Mycoplasma genitalium, and 134 cases of syphilis.

There were also 522 cases of gonorrhoea in 2023, and 473 cases of chlamydia. Abela said that in 2023, there were also seven cases of LGV and 22 cases of trichomoniasis.

In 2023, there were 122 cases of HSV, and a total of 490 cases of HPV reported. There were only two cases of Mpox reported.

Abela said that there were 64 cases of Molluscum Contagiosum, and 13 cases of viral hepatitis B and C.

There were a total of 19 cases of HIV of the new diagnosis, and 10 cases of sexually transmitted dermatophytosis in 2023.

In 2023, there were also 36 cases of scabies and pediculosis.