The use of a condom is essential to protect yourself and your partners against STDs. If you have any concerns, you should have an STD screening test. In the event of an infection, follow the treatment correctly and inform your sexual partners.
What does Sciensano do?
Sciensano compiles 2 reports each year documenting the evolution of STDs in Belgium.
The reports are based on information provided by data-collection networks:
- the sentinel network of microbiological laboratories managed by Sciensano
- the sentinel network of clinicians managed by Sciensano
- the National Reference Centre for STIs hosted by the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp.
All STDs are monitored by the sentinel network of clinicians, but only Chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis are monitored by the sentinel network of microbiological laboratories.
The reports are made public and transmitted to the authorities that can re-evaluate the policy for controlling and preventing STDs.
Sentinel network of clinicians
Since 2000, the sentinel network of clinicians run by the Epidemiology of infectious diseases unit describes the characteristics of people suffering from an STD (including genital herpes) and the factors that increase the risk of transmitting an STD.
The participating doctors are gynaecologists, dermatologists, general practitioners, internists, urologists; and in addition family planning centres, sexual health clinics and student medical centres. Participation is on a voluntary basis.
National Reference Centre for STDs
The National Reference Centre for STDs, hosted by the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp provides data to Sciensano on the molecular surveillance.
It analyses the genetic type (serotyping) of strains of bacteria in circulation and determines which ones are no longer circulating. This enables it to predict potential epidemics.