The current situation
The statistics of the Infectious Diseases Register for 2025 have been updated, and the reported case numbers can now be viewed in the statistical cube of the Infectious Diseases Register.
Last year, the number of severe meningococcal infections recorded in the Infectious Diseases Register tripled compared to the previous year. The tuberculosis situation in Finland has remained largely unchanged, but drug resistance has increased. Drug resistance has also increased in Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Among sexually transmitted infections, the number of gonorrhoea cases continued to rise.
Increase in meningococcal cases
In 2025, the number of severe meningococcal infections reported to the Infectious Diseases Register tripled from 6 cases in the previous year to 19 cases. Infections were detected across Finland, in people of different ages, and were caused by meningococcal bacteria belonging to four different serogroups, the most common being serogroup Y with six cases. With the exception of three serogroup Y strains belonging to the same sequence type, the bacterial strains were genetically diverse. However, typing data was not available for one quarter of the cases.
“The restrictions used to control the coronavirus pandemic significantly reduced the incidence of meningococcal disease, and it appears that incidence is now returning to pre-pandemic levels. At the moment, there is no evidence of widespread dissemination of any single bacterial clone after the pandemic, although the lack of complete typing data makes detailed assessment somewhat challenging,” says THL Senior Specialist Maija Toropainen.
The number of tuberculosis cases stable, drug resistance increasing
The number of tuberculosis cases decreased slightly compared to 2024. In 2025, 164 tuberculosis cases were diagnosed (incidence 3/100,000). This was 23 cases (12%) fewer than in 2024, when 187 cases were reported.
Of all tuberculosis cases, 114 (70%) were pulmonary tuberculosis. Of these, 27 (24%) were smear-positive. A smear-positive result means that the tuberculosis is infectious. A total of 124 cases (76%) were culture-confirmed.
The proportion of foreign-born persons was higher than that of Finnish-born persons. Of all cases, 95 (58%) were reported in foreign-born individuals (born outside Finland, or if birth-country information was missing, nationality other than Finland). Information on birth country or nationality was missing for two persons.
| Year | Finnish | Foreigner | Unknown |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 119 | 99 | 20 |
| 2017 | 140 | 97 | 12 |
| 2018 | 127 | 87 | 10 |
| 2019 | 123 | 95 | 3 |
| 2020 | 107 | 66 | 1 |
| 2021 | 94 | 68 | 3 |
| 2022 | 97 | 84 | 8 |
| 2023 | 77 | 94 | 10 |
| 2024 | 84 | 100 | 6 |
| 2025 | 67 | 95 | 2 |
The number of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains resistant to tuberculosis medicines increased compared to the previous year.
During the year, nine microbiologically confirmed multidrug-resistant (MDR) cases were identified, three of which were pre-extensively drug-resistant (pre‑XDR‑TB). All MDR cases were detected in foreign-born patients.
| Age group | Finnish | Foreigner | Unknown |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-14 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 15-29 | 2 | 31 | 1 |
| 30-44 | 4 | 34 | 1 |
| 45-59 | 4 | 14 | 0 |
| 60-74 | 17 | 9 | 0 |
| 75- | 38 | 5 | 0 |
The number of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains resistant to tuberculosis medicines increased compared to the previous year.
During the year, nine microbiologically confirmed multidrug-resistant (MDR) cases were identified, three of which were pre-extensively drug-resistant (pre‑XDR‑TB). All MDR cases were detected in foreign-born patients.
Drug resistance in Staphylococcus aureus has increased
The incidence of invasive MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) infections—those isolated from blood or cerebrospinal fluid—has increased in Finland since 2019. In 2025, the incidence was 2.0 per 100,000 population, which is 2.5 times higher than in 2019 (0.8/100,000).
MRSA incidence has especially increased after the coronavirus pandemic, starting in 2023. The rise in invasive MRSA infections concerns age groups 25 years and older. The development in Finland differs from the trend in the EU/EEA region as a whole, where MRSA incidence is declining.
Although the incidence of invasive MRSA infections in Finland remains low compared with the EU/EEA average (in 2024: 4.4 per 100,000), the trend is unfavourable. Ongoing MRSA outbreaks among people who use drugs explain part of the increase in incidence.
The number of gonorrhoea cases continued to rise
In 2025, a total of 2,097 new gonorrhoea cases were reported. The number increased by 13 percent compared to 2024 and is the highest ever reported in the Infectious Diseases Register. At the same time, chlamydia infections continued to decline.
Gonorrhoea cases were predominantly in men (66%). The median age of those infected was 34 years, notes Senior Researcher Kirsi Liitsola.
Sexually transmitted infections and chronic viral hepatitis
Reporting services
Infectious Diseases Register statistics database – cases
Background information
Privacy notice of the Infectious Diseases Register
Sources
The statistics are based on data from the Infectious Diseases Register.
Statistical description
THL maintains the national Infectious Diseases Register based on the Communicable Diseases Act and Decree.
