Swine flu spreading in south of Finland

“Uusimaa in acceleration phase of epidemic”

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Swine flu has been spreading in the Uusimaa region in the south of Finland, says Professor Ville Valtonen, head physician responsible for infectious diseases at the Helsinki and Uusimaa hospital District (HUS).
      Several schools and military garrisons report suspected cases of the disease.
     
“The cases are increasing every day”, Valtonen says.
      He explains that the Uusimaa area is in the acceleration phase of the epidemic, with more patients exhibiting symptoms of the H1N1 virus showing up at clinics.
      “If this proceeds as it has around the world, the acceleration phase will last from three to four weeks, after which the epidemic will reach its peak, lasting about four weeks”, Valtonen says.
      Three patients were in intensive care at HUS for severe pneumonia.
     
The virus is moving rapidly to the south of Finland from the north, where the epidemic is already raging. The infection rate had reached epidemic proportions on Tuesday also in the more southerly areas of Pirkanmaa and Joensuu.
      The H1N1 virus has been found in half of patients suffering from respiratory infections, says Jukka Lumio, head physician for infectious diseases at the Tampere University Hospital.
      The epidemic appears to be starting in Turku as well.
     
In Uusimaa, swine flu has appeared at some schools in Helsinki, Espoo, and Vantaa.
      In Helsinki, at least eight schools are affected, and suspicions of the disease have emerged in several others. About 40 are suspected of having caught the disease at the English School in Helsinki’s Meilahti district.
      “One has been diagnosed with swine flu, and there are dozens of suspected cases. Of course, it is possible that an ordinary autumn flu could be raging here”, says Principal Erkki Lehto.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Oulu swine flu death not affecting scheduling of H1N1 vaccine (27.10.2009)
  Swine flu shots found to cause mild symptoms of disease (22.10.2009)
  Helsinki plans to close swine flu clinic in November (19.10.2009)

Helsingin Sanomat