300,000 Norwegians Infected with Swine Flu Last Week

Socio-Economics History Blog
The entire 13 per cent of Norway’s population is now infected with the swine flu. The estimates of Public Health (FHI) for the latest updated situation report that was published late Wednesday night.

Both the incidence of influenza-like illness and the number of confirmed flu cases has increased sharply throughout the country in recent weeks. But last week was a steep upward curve.

Rekorduke
According to the NIPH was all as many as 300,000 Norwegians infected with swine flu only last week.

- We estimate that just under 630,000 Norwegians are now infected and that nearly 300,000 were infected just last week. There are a large number and it tells us that we are in the middle of a new and powerful wave of infection which is significantly stronger than the one we had this summer, “said Hans Blystad, superintendent at the NIPH.

He will not mean anything if, or when, we can expect to reach a temporary peak of infection, but said a leveling off of the number of new infected first is probably when even more is vaccinated. Infection estimates of the NIPH is based on reported cases in the last week from 201 physician offices spread across the country, including laboratory tests and how many were diagnosed with “influenza-like illness”.

14 percent of those who went to the doctor last week had this diagnosis. Of the tests that were done in more detail in the laboratory showed all samples swine influenza virus.

Hospitals
Svineinfluensavirset has now spread epidemic in the whole country, and is most extensive in the Southeast and West Coast. So far, 772 Norwegians hospitalized in connection with the swine flu pandemic. 94 received intensive treatment, and 16 are dead. 13 of them died in hospital. Yesterday was the 93 people hospitalized, and 20 in intensive care. Deputy Health Director Bjorn Guldvog believe that the number of infected in Norway will increase.

- We believe we are on a rising wave in the number of infected people. But soon, almost all the risk groups vaccinated, so we hope for a avflating in the number of critically ill and died, “said Guldvog.