Male patient in Lapland tested for swine flu

A Finnish man from Ivalo, a village in the municipality of Inari in Finnish Lapland, is being suspected of a swine influenza or A(H1N1) infection. On Wednesday he was transferred to the Lapland Central Hospital to Rovaniemi because he exhibited symptoms typical of the disease, including high temperature.
      ”His symptoms could also indicate some other disease”, said Kirsti Nylander, a doctor at Ivalo’s health centre.
     
Professor Petri Ruutu of the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) said on Wednesday evening that the current swine flu suspicion is very vague, which is why one should treat it with caution until more accurate information is received - maybe already on Thursday.
      ”Dozens if not hundreds of so-called suspicious cases have been recorded in Western Europe and EU countries. Most of the cases have turned out to be something other than swine flu”, Ruutu stressed.
     
In Sweden, one swine flu infection was confirmed on Wednesday.
      However, Juhani Eskola, the Director-General of THL reports that individual cases of the swine flu virus are not likely to affect the plans drawn up in Finland for a possible epidemic of swine influenza A(H1N1).
      In the meantime, the disease is spreading worldwide. According to the World Health Organisation, by Wednesday morning a total of 22 countries had reported 1,516 confirmed human cases of swine influenza, including 30 deaths.
     
The Finns quarantined in Hong Kong will be released on Friday afternoon Finnish time.
      A couple of them intend to stay in the city in order to have a short vacation, reports Consul Ulpu Koskinen of the Finnish Consulate in Hong Kong. The others will try to get on the first possible flight out.
      The City of Hong Kong has offered the quarantined Finns an opportunity to stay in the city on a free holiday. The offer includes for example tickets to Disneyland.
      ”I have also invited them for coffee at the Consulate. After all, we have been in close phone contact with each other for a week”, notes Ulpu Koskinen.
     
On Wednesday, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health issued all State Provincial Offices with guidelines on how to prepare for a swine flu epidemic, while more detailed instructions were given to the hospital districts and municipalities.
      Those patients exhibiting flu symptoms are advised to call the local health care centre first, in order to consult a doctor. Those suspected of having caught the disease are to be admitted to hospital for collection of samples, potential treatment, and special precautions.
     
On Wednesday, it was confirmed that the female patient tested for swine flu at the Päijät-Häme Central Hospital in Lahti did not have the disease. She had been released from hospital on April 30th and been kept in home quarantine since. On Tuesday her quarantine ended.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Some of Finns quarantined in Hong Kong were on plane with Mexican virus man (4.5.2009)
  Swine flu scare spurs demand for masks (30.4.2009)
  Patient in Lahti tested for swine flu (29.4.2009)
  Finland prepared even for major epidemic of swine flu (28.4.2009)
  Finnish students stuck in Mexico in the middle of swine flu (27.4.2009)

Links:
  Ministry of Social Affairs and Health press release 27.4.2009
  WHO website: Swine influenza - update 3