Hundreds of cases of influenza-like symptoms have been registered at healthcare centers in Iceland in the past weeks, of which only few have been confirmed cases of the H1N1 swine flu virus. The epidemic is not considered severe.
The Directorate of Health.
“We are without doubt looking at a growing epidemic. I expect it to progress very quickly in the coming weeks as it has done in past four weeks,” chief epidemiologist Haraldur Briem at the Directorate of Health told Morgunbladid.
Briem explained that due to technical reasons it cannot be confirmed that all cases of influenza are cases of swine flu. “We don’t take many samples anymore but instead count cases of flu-like symptoms.”
Since the swine flu epidemic is not serious but similar to a regular flu epidemic, Briem doesn’t find it necessary to ban conventions and postpone the beginning of the new school term. “We rather ask people to stay at home for about one week after they become symptomous.”
Practical information in Icelandic and English are available on influensa.is.
Click here to read more about the swine flu in Iceland.
