– There is quite a sharp increase right now, says FHM’s director general Karin Tegmark Wisell.
So far, the seasonal curve looks much like last year, when the spread of infection peaked during the weekends. There is a risk of “fairly extensive” spread of infection around the turn of the year, says Tegmark Wisell.
So far, the swine flu – formal designation A(H1N1)pdm09 – accounts for nearly two-thirds of the analyzed cases, but the Public Health Agency writes in its weekly report that it is too early to say which type will dominate during the season.
About a week of symptoms
Those who get the flu can expect more than a week of symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, runny nose and cough.
Those who are older or in a risk group are recommended to get vaccinated. At the beginning of December, 55 percent of everyone over the age of 65 had been vaccinated in the regions that FHM has data on.
Otherwise, the same advice as during the pandemic applies, such as washing your hands and staying at home if you get sick.
– If you are particularly concerned about staying healthy, you should avoid large crowds and preferably meet people outdoors, but it is difficult to protect yourself completely, says Tegmark Wisell.