Finland ready to fight coronavirus, if necessary

Family Affairs and Social Services Minister Krista Kiuru on Friday said health security and preparedness for possible epidemics and pandemics are good in Finland as per international assessment

“Our health system is prepared to prevent, identify and treat infectious diseases, including the new coronavirus,” said Kiuru at a video meeting of EU health ministers. The EU health ministers discussed the global situation regarding Wuhan coronavirus and, in particular, the situation in the EU area, according to a press release issued by the social affairs and health ministry.

They also discussed preparedness in the EU, if an epidemic caused by the new coronavirus were to spread to Europe. There is currently no epidemic in Europe.

The representatives of the EU member states gave an overview of the situation from the point of view of preparedness. The member states’ assessments of the situation and preparedness measures are largely consistent.

The discussion will continue on February 13 at an extraordinary meeting of EU health ministers in Brussels.

Finland is prepared to examine patients and samples and treat those infected with coronavirus in isolated conditions in hospitals and to protect others from infection.

“We can count on the actions of municipalities and hospital districts in the combat against infectious diseases, including the coronavirus. A good indication of this is that the illness of an individual Chinese tourist in Lapland was identified and dealt with quickly. The preparedness arrangements worked and the person was able to get home after treatment in isolation,” Kiuru said.

“The government will closely monitor the global situation together with various authorities. We are quickly informed of any changes in the situation. Above all, we are prepared for rapid changes,” said the minister.

However, individual cases of the disease are possible in Finland. It is important that potential cases are quickly identified so that effective control measures can reduce the risk of further infections.

In addition to the close monitoring of the situation in Finland and continuous cooperation between different Finnish authorities, Finland is continuously cooperating internationally to prevent the spread of all infectious diseases.

The social affairs and health ministry and the National Institute for Health and Welfare cooperate closely with the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety of the European Commission (DG Sante) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

Coronavirus, like many other infectious diseases, can best be protected by washing hands well with water and soap. If water and soap are not available, alcoholic hand disinfectant may be used instead. One having the symptoms of coronovirus infection should sneeze into one’s sleeve, not his/her hands.

The northern hemisphere is also experiencing an influenza season, and the best way to protect against it is through a vaccine.