Sexually transmitted infections in Salford have soared to 'appalling' levels, according to a leading councillor in the city. Coun John Warmisham was responding following the presentation of the 'Salford Locality Plan, 2020-25' report by Dr Muna Abdel Aziz, the city's director of public health, to the health and social care scrutiny panel.
It said that cases of gonorrhoea, syphilis, chlamydia and genital warts had increased by 28 per cent between 2015 and 2019. Salford ranked 15th highest of 149 upper-tier local authorities in the country for syphilis diagnoses in 2019 and for gonorrhoea Salford is ranked 24th.
"The rate of new STI diagnoses remains higher among males than females," the report compiled by a team of public health professionals said. Salford is defined as a high HIV prevalence local authority as it has a diagnosed HIV prevalence of five or more per 1,000 people aged 15 to 59 years."
