In the past year, Finland registered over 12,000 cases of chlamydia, identifying it as the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection in the country. According to the Infectious Diseases Register maintained by the Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare (THL) in 2025, the data also recorded approximately 2,100 cases of gonorrhea and 329 cases of syphilis. Professor M.
Gissler from THL’s research department provided analysis suggesting a noticeable shift in the pattern of sexually transmitted diseases following Finland’s closure of its eastern border with Russia in December 2023. He noted that historically, cases of syphilis and gonorrhea, particularly those linked to paid sex work, frequently entered Finland via routes originating from Russia. Professor Gissler stated that with the closure of this eastern border, that established route of transmission is now unavailable.
The statistics highlight the ongoing surveillance required for various sexually transmitted diseases within the national health system. The data underscores the potential impact of geopolitical changes on the epidemiology of these infections. The analysis suggests that border closures can directly alter the transmission dynamics and geographical sources of common sexually transmitted diseases, necessitating adjustments in public health monitoring and intervention strategies across the country.
Topics: #sexually #transmitted #diseases
