An outbreak of sexually transmitted dermatophilosis has been recorded in Europe.

An outbreak of dermatophilosis, an infectious disease that previously rarely affected people, was recorded in six European countries. This is stated in the report of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

Dermatophilosis usually affects horses and cattle, and occasionally it affects people who have to work with infected animals. However, this time, in a matter of months, dozens of cases were reported in which the disease was transmitted among people through sexual contact.

From December 2025 to June 2026, 70 cases of new infection were registered in France, Germany, Spain and Sweden. Most of the cases were men who had visited adult saunas and spas shortly before the onset of symptoms. In Norway, ten men became infected while practicing martial arts. In Austria, the disease was detected in 17 people.

The disease manifested itself as itchy rashes and pustules in the genital area and on the face, while the patients did not experience any general malaise. All cases were mild and without hospitalization, and the risk to the public was considered very low by the ECDC.