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More STDs recorded in Switzerland

The number of cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) has increased greatly this year, according to the latest figures.

The Federal Health Office said on Monday in its health bulletin that there had been 611 incidences of syphilis and 647 of gonorrhoea so far in 2010 – around a third more than in the same period last year.

Around 3,330 chlamydia infections were also reported, a number which remained stable on last year.

Switzerland is not the only country to see this kind of increase in the past few years, spokesman Jean-Louis Zurcher told the Swiss News Agency.

“As people become less frightened of Aids, they forget to protect themselves,” Zurcher explained.

The health office is currently drawing up a strategy against STDs and HIV, the virus which causes Aids, which should come into force next year.

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SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR