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Hiv infections growing in Finland

Recorded Hiv infections in Finland are higher than in years.

Ihmisiä kadulla.
Image: Henrietta Hassinen / Yle
Yle News

The Finnish institute for health and welfare (THL) says Hiv infections in Finland are rising. So far this year, the agency has recorded 241 new cases, up from 152 in 2021.

The previous record year was 2006, when cases numbered slightly under 200.

More than half of this year's cases have been registered in the Helsinki and Uusimaa hospital district (HUS).

Some 3,000 people in Finland live with the condition, with an additional 800 people currently estimated to be unwitting carriers of the virus, according to HIV Point.

Regional newspaper Etelä-Suomen sanomat was the first to report the news.

This week’s All Points North podcast talked to Maya Viecili, an Hiv advocate in the Helsinki region. She was diagnosed with Aids in 2020 and since then has decided to be open about her status to help reduce the stigma around the disease.

You can listen to the full podcast using the embedded player here, via Yle Areena, on Spotify or via the options found in this article.

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