Confirms omicron infection in Sweden
Denmark has also confirmed cases of the new virus variant, while in Finland omicron infection is suspected.
The infected person is a person who has recently returned to Sweden from a stay in South Africa, the Public Health Authority (FHM) informs.
The positive corona test for the person was taken a little over a week ago, and that it was a case of omicron infection was confirmed on Monday at 16 o’clock.
– It was expected that we would find the omikron variant also in Sweden, as it has been discovered in several other European countries. The information we have about the variant means that we should take it very seriously until we have more knowledge, says Karin Tegmark Wisell, CEO of FHM, in a Statement.
It is uncertain whether the case is linked to the two people in Jönköping who became ill after a trip to South Africa, as Dagens Nyheter reported earlier Monday.
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Also discovered in Denmark
Measures for travelers from southern Africa have been pouring in since Friday 26. November, and we are following developments closely through intensive monitoring in line with recommendations from the WHO and the European Agency for Infection Control, Wisell continues.
The omicron variant was discovered in South Africa last week. It is believed that omicron is a more contagious variant of the coronavirus.
Denmark has also confirmed cases of variants. The two infected had been traveling in South Africa.
– It was expected, said director Henrik Ullum in the Statens Serum Institut in a press release.
He also states that the Danish authorities maintain the strategy of intensive infection control throughout the country.
The Netherlands, Germany, the Czech Republic, Italy and Austria, among others, have confirmed cases of the omicron variant in Europe. In Norway, so far no cases have been confirmed.
Suspected omicron infection in Finland
While Sweden on Monday confirmed its first case of the virus variant, in Finland it has been found for cases that they suspect to be the new variant. This is stated by the Finnish Institute of Public Health (THL).
Local authorities have ordered the two people to isolate themselves and have mapped out their close contact.
In both cases, the infected have had contact abroad. THL will not say which countries are in question until it has been established that the cases are of the omicron variant.
The test results from the two infected will come within a week, says THL.