Pubdate: Mon, 11 Feb 2008
Source: Helsingin Sanomat International Edition (Finland)
Copyright: 2008, Helsingin Sanomat
Contact:  http://www.helsinki-hs.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1158
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange)

HIV INFECTION RATE IN FINLAND REMAINS AT RECORD HIGH LEVEL

Needle Exchanges Keep Infection Rate Down Among IV Drug Users

The number of HIV infections has remained at a record-high level in 
Finland for the past two years. Both in 2006 and 2007 there were more 
than 190 infections every year.

After 2005 the number of infections from sexual contact grew by one third.

Experts are unsure about the specific reasons for the jump in HIV 
infections. There has been growth in cases stemming from sex between 
men and from heterosexual contact.

The previous surge in infections was in 1999, when an epidemic 
affected users of intravenous drugs. In that year 85 people caught 
the virus through IV drug use.

Distribution of clean needles and education on the issue reversed the 
trend, and last year only eight new cases of HIV were attributed to 
the use of infected needles.

Kirsi Liitsola, a researcher at the HIV unit of the National Public 
Health Institute, sees a clear problem in the fact that about 20 per 
cent of those who are infected with HIV have themselves tested at a 
fairly late stage, after carrying the virus for years.

Experts have called for easier access to HIV tests. Sini Pasanen of 
the Finnish Body Positive Association, a peer organisation for people 
with HIV in Finland, says that doctors should be more active in 
offering HIV tests.

A large proportion of HIV infections among heterosexual men originate 
from foreign travel.

Liitsola says that HIV infections among gay men have increased in 
Europe and North America.

She believes that awareness of HIV is high among gay men, but that 
after repetition of the same message for more than 20 years, many 
seem to have grown numb to it.

On the other hand, the emerging generation does not remember the 
dramatic events of the 1980s and early 1990s. Finland's first HIV 
infection was recorded in 1980. The largest number of deaths from 
AIDS - a total of 32 - was in 1995.

In addition to better access to testing, Liitsola and Pasanen are 
calling for more education about HIV and how to avoid it. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake