New STI hits UK: 'Rain rot' disease causes unsightly scabs 'across the body' and is rising across Europe, according to report

READ MORE: Warning over staggering five-fold surge in deadly liver disease See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 04:24 EDT, 27 August 2026 | Updated: 04:33 EDT, 27 August 2026 A sexually transmitted skin infection dubbed 'rain rot' has hit the UK for the first time, amid soaring cases in Europe. The bacterial infection, known medically as dermatophilosis, causes pus-filled, scaly, crusted skin lesions, which most commonly appear on the genitals and face - but can be seen all over the body. It usually spreads between animals, but recent outbreaks across Europe suggest it can spread between humans during close contact. Clusters of the infection have been reported in France, Germany, Norway and Spain this summer, with cases rising by 80 per cent in just two months. Now, one case of the disease has been reported in the UK, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).According to health officials, the case was identified in Scotland and has been linked to attendance at a venue where sexual activity takes place, such as a sauna.Most reported cases have been among men who have sex with men, the new report, published in the British Medical Journal, stated. Other cases have been linked to contact sports and martial arts, as well as travel to South East Asia. One case of dermatophilosis has now been detected in the UK, following recent outbreaks in Europe Pictured above are two of the patients involved in the French cluster of suspected sexual transmission of dermatophilosis among men who have sex with menDermatophilosis is a bacterial skin disease caused by a bacterium found mostly in cattle, horses, and other animals.The condition is dubbed 'rain rot' because moisture and high humidity increases the risk of the infection spreading. Human infections are rare, but as of August 20 the overall number of cases in Europe sat at 126, up from just 70 in mid-June. The ECDC said most cases in Europe were characterised by mild skin infections in multiple sites across the body, including the genitals, thighs, groin and beard area. Most patients have recovered after antibiotic treatment, with no serious complications, it added. The recent rise in cases has led experts to believe that the way the infection is spread is changing with 'human-to-human transmission through close skin-to-skin contact, particularly in humid environments', possible. Indirect transmission via shared surfaces can also not be ruled out, the ECDC said. However, the overall risk to the general population 'remains very low'. The ECDC added: 'People participating in close contact sports or activities, particularly in humid settings or where skin lesions and shared surfaces are present, may also be at increased exposure risk; however, the available evidence is still limited.'A UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) spokesman said that healthcare professionals also need to be aware of the infection in men who have sex with men and present with symptoms. 'This is particularly important for people who have recently travelled to a country where clusters of infection have been reported or who have recently attended a sex-on-premises venue,' they said.