Extensively drug-resistant (XDR) tuberculosis has already been detected in forty countries, including Finland's neighbours Russia and the Baltic states. The World Health Organisation says XDR is most prevalent in Latvia and in other areas of the former Soviet Union.
Experts interviewed by the Oulu newspaper Kaleva say it is just a matter of time before the deadly strain hits Finland. Individual cases are anticipated as opposed to a widespread outbreak.
In the coming months, all of the country's hospital personnel are to be instructed on how to handle the disease. Incubation units have already been set up in some hospital to handle XDR patients.
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