HIV infections increase, unprotected sex main cause
Infections from IV drug use stabilise
Transmission of the HIV virus through sexual contact has been on the rise in Finland throughout the decade. The National Public Health Institute reported last year nearly 200 new HIV infections, which is 50 per cent more than in the late 1990s.
More women are being infected with HIV. Transmission through the intravenous use of drugs has been brought under control: only about ten infections attributed to IV drug use were reported last year.
The number of infections has grown in both homosexual and heterosexual contact. One of the apparent reasons for the development has been sex tourism to Estonia and Russia. Infections have also been brought home from Asia.
Helsingin Sanomat
