English summary: THE SURVEILLANCE RESULTS OF THE 2009 PANDEMIC IN FINLAND

The first case of infection by pandemic influenza A(H1N1) 2009 virus was confirmed in Finland on 10 May, 2009. The epidemic started at the beginning of October, it peaked first in the north and later in the south. Based on data on laboratory-confirmed cases, the morbidity was highest in children. The daily number of patients hospitalized with 2009 H1N1 influenza was over 400 at the end of November. Of the hospitalized patients (median age 32 years; range 0-89), 43% had at least one chronic underlying illness, 2% were pregnant women, 8% needed intensive care and 5% were on a respirator. The most common underlying illnesses were chronic pulmonary and heart disease and diabetes. The patients admitted to intensive care units were older (median age 48 years) and 59% of them had at least one chronic underlying illness, none were pregnant. In total, 44 deaths related to 2009 H1N1 influenza were recorded (median age 56 years; range 1-88): 4 of them were children, 40 (93%) belonged to the high-risk groups on the basis of their underlying condition, 3 did not have any underlying illness. The laboratory-confirmed cases represent a minor part of all those who became asymptomatically or symptomatically infected by pandemic influenza A(H1N1) 2009 virus.

On välttämätöntä kehittää valtakunnallinen avohoidon käyntisyyseuranta, jolla voidaan havaita ja seurata epidemioita.