Drug-resistant chlamydia on the rise

Cases of antibiotic-resistant chlamydia are on the increase in Iceland and condom use is still something of a “taboo”, reports Icelandic national broadcaster RÚV (link in Icelandic).

According to Karl G. Kristinsson, Medical Director of Bacteriology at Iceland’s main hospital, it is a cause of great concern that traditional antibiotics are not sufficient, meaning that people are infected with the disease for longer.

There were 19 diagnosed cases of chlamydia in Iceland in 2005. This rose to a record 59 cases in 2008. Last year, there were 38 news – just above the current average. Iceland has the highest per capita incidence of chlamydia in the whole of Europe.

Kristinsson points out that less effective antibiotics mean that people are infected for longer, increasing the likelihood of passing the disease on to others.

Sexologist Sigga Dögg told RÚV that Icelanders are not conscientiously using condoms because “they are expensive, availability is poor, and there is still a great air of taboo and stigma surrounding them”.