Eighty-four new HIV cases were registered in Finland by the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) in the first half of this year.

Last year, Finland saw 176 new HIV infections – nearly the same number that was detected in Estonia during the past six months. However with 1.3 million inhabitants, the Baltic country has just a quarter of Finland’s population. The majority of new Estonian infections were diagnosed in the capital city Tallinn.

The majority of new cases detected in Finland last year were acquired through heterosexual contact. Thirty-sex cases were among homosexuals. Intravenous drug users accounted for nine infections.