A jump in syphillis and clamydia cases in Ireland has led doctors to call for a new health campaign to make people aware of the dangers of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
St James' Hospital in Dublin has seen cases of syphillis increase by 50% over the last 12 months, while diagnoses of clamydia have risen by 25% in the same time, according to Dr Dominic Rolley.
The specialist in Genital Urinary Medicine at the hospital said a high proportion of the infections are diagnosed in women between the ages of 25 and 29.
There has been no public health campaign on STIs since that highlighting the dangers of HIV and AIDS in the 1980s.
Dr Rolley said the upsurge in new HIV cases proves a new campaign is needed.
He said: "We had 400 new cases diagnosed by the end of 2009. And out of that there was about 165 heterosexual new diagnoses and 140 gay and bisexual men.
"The vast majority of diagnoses have been below the age of 35."
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