Finnish Defence Forces confirm first swine flu case in garrison

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A conscript serving at the Utti garrison in Southern Finland was diagnosed with the H1N1 virus on Friday. This is the first swine flu case found in the Finnish Defence Forces.
      According to the statement of the Finnish Defence Command, another conscript is also being kept under observation at the Utti light infantry regiment as he is exhibiting flu symptoms.
      ”The health of three conscripts has been monitored. The test results for two of them proved negative, while the results for the third man are still pending”, says Lieutenant-Colonel Ali Mättölä, the Chief of Staff at Utti.
     
If further infections occur, visits to the regiment area could be restricted and if the situation so demands, the conscripts’ vacations could be cancelled. So far these measures have not been necessary.
      The infection did not come as a surprise to the regiment.
      ”We could see this coming. No doubt it is possible that the virus could spread among conscripts”, Möttölä noted.
     
The Utti garrison has long been preparing to deal with the disease. Those conscripts who have been infected are taken to the regiment’s health centre as soon as possible in order to prevent them from infecting others.
      The conscripts and the personnel of the regiment have also been advised about precautions. Moreover, they have been encouraged to keep an eye on each others’ health.
     
The infected conscript was on Friday feeling well and he no longer had a high temperature.
      He will stay under observation at the health centre for another five to seven days in order to make sure that he no longer carries the virus. It is not known from where the conscript initially contracted the disease.
      ”He joined the military service in January, and I have no idea from where he could have contracted the infection. Our service programme has been quite normal”, Mättölä reports.
     
Up to August 9th, there have been 189 confirmed cases of H1N1 in Finland according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, but the country is no longer recommending laboratory tests for all suspect cases, so the figure may be substantially higher.
      It is anticipated that numbers will rise appreciably as the autumn approaches.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Health officials say WHO pandemic pronouncement does not alter Finland´s preparations for swine flu (12.6.2009)
  Researcher: Swine flu to land in Finland from south in the autumn (18.5.2009)

Links:
  WHO: Pandemic (H1N1) 2009
  European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control

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