Faroese STI cases rise as health authority urges protection

Cases of sexually transmitted infections are increasing in the Faroe Islands, according to new figures from the Health Authority, Kringvarp Føroya reports.

Condoms provide good protection against both chlamydia and gonorrhoea. No vaccines are available for the infections, and having one does not provide immunity, meaning people can be infected more than once. The Health Authority therefore says it is important to protect yourself.

Chlamydia remains the most common STI

Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted infection, while the number of gonorrhoea cases has risen steadily in recent years.

During the first half of this year, 69 cases of chlamydia and eight cases of gonorrhoea were registered. These figures correspond to positive results in 8.3 per cent and 1.0 per cent of tests, respectively.

The figures indicate that the totals for 2026 could exceed those recorded in 2025, when 6.8 per cent of tests were positive for chlamydia and 0.6 per cent were positive for gonorrhoea.

Most registered chlamydia cases were among people aged 20 to 24. Since 2024, almost twice as many women as men have been tested, but a significantly higher proportion of tests among men have been positive.

The statistics come from the laboratory at the National Hospital and were analysed by the Health Authority using the same method as the Statens Serum Institut.