Infection hazard

Finland are falling ill with a mysterious stomach virus, with dozens of cases reported along some of the country’s most popular wilderness trails. Authorities say the outbreak appears to be spreading, though the source remains unclear.Health officials confirmed around ten new cases on Tuesday in Urho Kekkonen National Park (UKK). Last week, over 20 infections were reported along the Karhunkierros Trail in Kuusamo.According to Teija Puhto, chief physician at the infectious disease unit of the Northern Finland health authority, the symptoms are consistent with norovirus, a highly contagious gastrointestinal infection.“This strongly resembles norovirus. It’s one of the most easily spread stomach viruses,” Puhto said. “It’s unlikely that water is the source, since the infections are appearing across different parks and huts. It points to a virus spreading through surfaces.”Puhto noted that norovirus has remained active longer than usual this spring. Normally, outbreaks diminish before summer. She added that hikers themselves may unknowingly be spreading the virus between rest areas.While norovirus is suspected, other causes have not been ruled out. Waterborne transmission seems unlikely due to the geographic spread of cases.But not everyone agrees. Tommi Kallberg, a Kuusamo-based outdoor tourism entrepreneur, believes poor hygiene or contaminated drinking water may be to blame. “We haven’t seen large clusters of infections at once, and usually only one person in a group gets sick. That’s not typical for norovirus,” he said.Kallberg, who runs Oulangan Taika, said today’s hikers are more hygiene-conscious than before, thanks in part to lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.“People are well aware of how important hygiene is in the wilderness,” he said. Even so, he admitted the reports have shaken confidence. “We’re getting a lot of questions from customers. Some have postponed or cancelled their trips.”The outbreak has prompted increased attention from health officials and national park authorities. Metsähallitus, the state forest agency, confirmed over 20 cases on Karhunkierros alone and is monitoring the situation closely.While no source has been confirmed, both authorities and businesses are urging visitors to prioritise hand hygiene, avoid shared surfaces when possible, and be cautious with food and water handling.