Donovanosis, a sexually transmitted disease that
 cause genital ulcers, has been spreading through
 the United Kingdom.

Flesh devouring 'STD' causing bacteria is rapidly spreading in the United Kingdom

By Edward Era Barbacena

A once-rare flesh-eating sexually transmitted disease that causes “beefy red” ulcers is spreading across the UK, according to a report Friday.

Cases of donovanosis — which causes thick sores that damage genital tissue — have been steadily growing in the region since 2016, and cases are expected to rise,  according to data and experts cited by Birmingham Live.

Granuloma inguinale (donovanosis) is a genital ulcerative disease caused by the intracellular gram-negative bacterium Klebsiella granulomatis (formerly known as Calymmatobacterium granulomatis).

 The disease occurs rarely in the United States; however, sporadic cases have been described in India, South Africa, and South America (526–535). Although granuloma inguinale was previously endemic in Australia, it is now extremely rare (536,537). 

Clinically, the disease is characterized as painless, slowly progressive ulcerative lesions on the genitals or perineum without regional lymphadenopathy; subcutaneous granulomas (pseudobuboes) also might occur. The lesions are highly vascular (i.e., beefy red appearance) and can bleed. Extragenital infection can occur with infection extension to the pelvis, or it can disseminate to intra-abdominal organs, bones, or the mouth. 

The lesions also can develop secondary bacterial infection and can coexist with other sexually transmitted pathogens.

“Figures suggest that donovanosis — which was previously thought to be restricted to places including India, Brazil and New Guinea — is becoming more common on these shores,” Dr. Datta, of MyHealthCare Clinic in London, told the outlet.

Health officials reported 30 cases of the STD in the UK in 2019, but more infections in the past two years could pose a public-health risk, she warned.

The STD is generally transmitted through unprotected sex, but in rare cases, it can be spread through non-sexual skin-on-skin contact and to newborn babies through their moms.

Symptoms include “bulging red bumps,” “damaged skin” and “loss of genital tissue color,” according to Healthline.com.

The STD is more common in parts of India, Papua New Guinea, central Australia and the Caribbean and southern Africa, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Long-term treatment, including with antibiotics, are needed to cure the disease.