A sexually transmitted disease known as donovanosis, rarely seen in the U.S., is making headlines this week after some physicians in the U.K. reported an apparent rise in cases, reports The Washington Post.
Five things to know:
1. The infection is caused by the bacterium Klebsiella granulomatis and leads to "beefy red" lesions that damage the tissue of a person's genitals, according to the CDC. The infection is commonly referred to as a "flesh-eating STI" because of the potential for tissue damage, but the bacteria does not actually eat the skin, the Post said.
2. While once endemic in America, donovanosis infections fell sharply after antibiotic use increased in the 1950s and 1960s. Now, the U.S. typically sees about 100 cases each year, according to the National Library of Medicine.
3. The infection is most common in tropical areas such as parts of India, Central America, Papua New Guinea and southern Africa.
4. While some physicians in the U.K. have anecdotally reported an increase in cases, the infection is still extremely rare. The country reported between 18 and 30 cases annually between 2016 and 2020.
5. Melinda Pettigrew, PhD, an epidemiology professor at the Yale School of Public Health in New Haven, Conn., told USA Today that she sees donovanosis as a "small scale concern right now," though she did not rule out the possibility of potential spread in the U.S.
"Donovanosis is still extremely rare," Dr. Pettigrew said. "But any increases in numbers are potentially concerning. Sexually transmitted infections are often undiagnosed, and there may be missed infections, so the true number could be slightly higher."