Aussie travelers are spreading drug-resistant gonorrhea, with half spending time in certain global hotspot

Travelers are spreading drug-resistant gonorrhea at alarming rates, prompting calls to embed sexual health advice into all stages of the Australian travel pathway.

New The University of Queensland research points to unprecedented levels of international travel sparking heightened sexually transmitted infection cases.

The researchers point to the natural growing trend of more people in the modern age having the money and ability to travel overseas, with 400 million overseas trips recorded in 1990 compared with 1.5 billion in 2024.

Previous research has also established different infections are more prevalent among people who travel for different reasons.

Travelers from Australia are spreading drug-resistant gonorrhoea at alarming rates. jarun011 – stock.adobe.com

Cited in this latest research, a 2024 study found backpackers were more likely to contract chlamydia, people who traveled to visit friends or family ended up with syphilis at particularly high rates, and men who had sex with men contracted gonorrhoea and HIV more often than the wider general public.

A previous study by the same group of researchers found that half of Australians who acquired STIs overseas had been to southeast Asia.

“Southeast Asia has become both a hotspot for drug-resistant STIs and a popular sex tourism destination,” the researchers say.

“Given the high volume of Australian travellers to this region annually (3.7 million in 2024 alone), the likelihood of acquiring drug-resistant gonorrhoea will likely increase, unless appropriate preventive measures are taken.”

The researchers say sexual health advice needs to be embedded in general medical advice given to Australian travelers.

“Pre-travel consultations rarely address sexual health in a way that balances sexual pleasure with risk reduction. The current models of sexual health care emphasise the traditional risk-or fear-based approach, which still misses the cornerstone of care on sexual pleasure,” the researchers say.

One survey cited in the research found 22.4 percent of Australian clinicians offered pre-travel sexual health advice. Davide Angelini – stock.adobe.com

One survey cited in the research found only 22.4 percent of Australian clinicians offered pre-travel sexual health advice.

The researchers suggest “role play and simulation” could be among doctors’ repertoire.

“Travellers generally recognise the importance of sexual health information,” the researchers say.

“However, discussing sexual health remains taboo for both travellers and healthcare providers.

“The authors recommended normalising sexual health discussions, building capacity and collaboration with sexual health practitioners, providing online options, and using role play and simulation approaches.

“The emergence of infections transmitted through sexual contact, together with the increase in drug-resistant STIs, has become a significant public health challenge, especially with the rise in international travel.

“This problem is worsened by missed opportunities for travellers to access pre-travel sexual health consultations and screening.”