Public health officials report that the number of HIV infections acquired by Finns outside of the country in 2011 rose considerably from previous years. Last year appears to be the first one in which the number of cases of HIV acquired abroad exceeded that of infections of domestic origin.
The figures are still preliminary, as the origin of some of the infections remains uncertain.
By the end of the year, 181 new cases of HIV had been recorded in Finland, down from 187 in 2010. In 2009 the number was 177.
Men bring back HIV most frequently from heterosexual encounters in the Far East, while women are often infected by the virus in encounters with men in Southern Europe.
Estonia, a very popular travel destination among Finns, has a higher HIV infection rate than Finland.
Women accounted for more than a third of all cases of HIV in Finland. Finnish men getting the virus in male-to-male encounters are typically infected in Finland.
The rise in HIV infections from abroad prompted the Finnish Red Cross and the Finnish AIDS Council to launch a campaign for safe sex during the Christmas holidays. Travellers at Finnish harbours and at airport departure gates for Asian flights were given health information and condoms.
Experts say that the improved survival rate for those with HIV may have led to greater complacency and more unprotected sex. Medication can prevent an HIV infection from developing into full-blown AIDS, but the drugs are expensive and have some negative side effects.
