“There are many cases of infection all around Finland. The flu season has been at its worst for a couple of weeks already and will likely remain like this for some weeks,” forecasts research professor Ilka Julkunen from the THL.
The H3N2 strain first struck Finland three years ago, but it has mutated so that even those who have had it before are not necessarily immune.
“The population’s resistance against H3-type viruses has clearly fallen. Each year, flu comes in severe varieties and many people can end up in the hospital—or even in intensive care. The best way to avoid infection is to take care of hand hygiene,” says Julkunen.
Cases of swine flu have also been diagnosed in a few military garrisons. According to Julkunen, the disease has not spread any further into the population.