European Testing Week: Test. Treat. Prevent.

From 17 to 24 November 2025, Luxembourg will take part in European Testing Week, an initiative aimed at encouraging everyone to assess their status with regard to certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV and viral hepatitis which, although preventable, remain a major public health challenge in Europe.

According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), certain STIs continue to rise, particularly gonorrhoea and syphilis[1]. In Luxembourg, national data[2] confirm these trends, with a 14% increase in gonorrhoea cases and a 35% increase in syphilis cases compared with 2023, affecting mainly men (78% for gonorrhoea and 77% for syphilis) aged 20 to 39. Chlamydia infections remained generally stable but showed a higher incidence among young women aged 20 to 24. New HIV infections, meanwhile, decreased by 29% in 2024. These figures highlight the importance of testing to detect an infection, prevent its transmission, initiate treatment rapidly and thus protect the health of all.

This year, the HIV Berodung service of the Luxembourg Red Cross, the Planning Familial, and the Ministry of Health and Social Security are joining forces to raise public awareness and promote early testing for STIs and HIV. The laboratories Ketterthill, Bionext and Laboratoires Réunis are also taking part in the initiative by offering free and anonymous testing.

The National Youth Information Agency (Agence Nationale pour l'Information des Jeunes – ANIJ) will also participate in European Testing Week through several awareness-raising activities carried out as part of their "STI Squad: Reboost" campaign. The "Jugendinfo on tour" initiative will take place from 10 to 19 November throughout the City of Luxembourg and will provide an opportunity to meet young people, distribute condoms and raise awareness about the importance of getting tested.

"Testing is an act of care and responsibility toward oneself, one's partners and one's loved ones. It is the most effective way to detect an infection that may sometimes remain asymptomatic for years while causing irreversible damage to the body," emphasises Minister Martine Deprez.

Reminder of prevention measures:

• Use condoms;
• Get tested regularly;
• Inform your sexual partner(s) in the event of an STI;
• Protect yourself by getting vaccinated against hepatitis B and human papillomavirus (HPV);
• Follow your treatments, if applicable;
• Learn about HIV preventive treatments according to your situation.

Press release by the Ministry of Health and Social Security

[1] STI cases continue to rise across Europe

[2] Epidemiological Report on Communicable Diseases in Luxembourg – 2024 (in French)