Two new HIV cases in 2021

Two HIV cases were confirmed in the Faroes last year, one woman and one man.

New HIV cases have been few and far between in recent years. The last new case dates back to 2016 when a man tested positive for the HIV virus. The last one before that was in 2011 when a woman tested positive.

At the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, four people tested positive in one year.

Since 1986, a total of 17 men and seven women have tested positive for HIV in the Faroes, reports the Chief Medical Officer.

Any concerns? Get tested

Despite two new cases from last year, the number of infected people in the Faroes remains steady, says Dr Shahin Gaini, a professor of infectious diseases.

Although there are no indications of rising HIV infection rates, the virus still exists in our part of the world, he adds.

“It’s difficult to say anything about so-called ‘dark figures’ in the Faroes – i.e. people who are infected without knowing about it or those who for other reasons are not featured in the statistics."

The professor advises anyone with concerns to ask their GP for a test.

Read the Faroese version of this article here.

More Faroese News in English.