Common colds and stomach flu sneaking around Finland this winter

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Even though the ordinary influenza epidemic has been exceptionally mild and late this winter, Finns have still had to sniffle, cough, and take their temperature frequently during recent weeks.
      "As ordinary influenza has spread less than was expected, a lot of other viruses including rhinoviruses have taken its place", says Reijo Pyhälä,head of the virus laboratory at the National Public Health Institute.
      Typically, these viruses are unpleasant but not as serious as influenza, which can be a life-threatening disease to persons in weak condition.
      "These symptoms are mild but last long and keep people away from work and school", notes Dr Ragnar Dahlberg from one of the private health care provider Medivire's clinics in Helsinki.
     
However, influenza viruses have not been entirely absent. Even though no large-scale epidemic has been experienced in Finland, local differences are considerable.
      The most common strain of influenza has been A-virus Wellington, but flu vaccines taken this winter have provided satisfactory protection against it.
      Another influenza A virus (New Caledonia) has been encountered more seldom, partly because it is older and Finns already have a good immunity against the virus.
      Currently, a new strain of flu, B-virus Jangsu, is spreading in Finland. It is expected to continue spreading until the spring.
     
In the Defence Forces, A-virus epidemics are clearly weakening, according to FDF epidemiologist, Dr Heikki Korpela from Finland's Tilkka Central Military Hospital in Helsinki.
      However, Korpela fears that a B-virus epidemic could break out in the Defence Forces units, as a few scattered cases of this flu have already been discovered.
     
Typically influenza breaks out first in garrisons. In addition to common colds, the Defence Forces have recently suffered from a stomach complaint caused by the Kaliki virus. Usually the same diseases spread even among civilians.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Finland prepares for possible global bird flu pandemic (11.3.2005)
  Influenza epidemic rages in garrisons (10.2.2005)

Links:
  National Public Health Institute

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