Chlamydia infections have declined in Finland for the first time since 1995, according to new data released by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).
Authorities recorded 14,350 chlamydia cases in 2024, marking a 20 percent drop compared to the previous year. The change ends a decades-long trend of rising infections.
Eija Hiltunen-Back, a specialist in dermatology and sexually transmitted infections, said no single explanation accounts for the decline.
“We are seeing this shift not only in Finland but also internationally,” she said.
Despite the drop in chlamydia, another STI is on the rise. Gonorrhoea cases increased to 1,850 last year, up from 1,300 in 2023. The rise has been more pronounced among women.
Health officials use the same diagnostic test for both chlamydia and gonorrhoea.
The chlamydia data suggests a potential shift in STI transmission patterns, although researchers say more evidence is needed to confirm whether the drop represents a lasting trend or a short-term fluctuation.
HT
