Finnish swine flu patients released from home quarantine

No apparent signs of secondary infection

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The Finnish man and woman found to be carrying the N1H1 flu virus are no longer being kept in isolation at home.
      One of the two patients is now perfectly well, and the other has very minor respiratory symptoms, reports senior physician Asko Järvinen from HUS, the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa.
      "The situation is completely over as far as they are concerned."
     
The man and woman living in the Greater Helsinki area were found to have the virus on Monday. They recently returned from a trip to Mexico.
      According to Järvinen, no other cases of the virus have been confirmed in Finland coming from their infection.
     
Possible infections, for example from the schools of one of those affected, would in his view have emerged already if they were going to.
      "In all probability there have been no incidents of secondary infection. This meshes well with the pattern seen elsewhere in Europe, where the chains of infection have been shorter", says Järvinen.
      "In America, longer chains have been presented. The assumption has been that this is associated with changes in the virus, and that the American strain is more contagious."
     
In Järvinen's view, the authorities' systems have worked well. Both the seeking of treatment and the treatment itself went completely according to the recommendations, he said.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Two cases of A(H1N1) swine flu confirmed in capital area on Tuesday (12.5.2009)

Helsingin Sanomat