Joint press release by the Wellbeing Services County of Lapland, Rescue Department of Lapland and Metsähallitus, 6 March 2024.
EDITED March 13: Hikers in the Urho Kekkonen National Park no longer have to avoid the campsites, toilets and lean-to shelters in the outbreak areas.
At the beginning of March, the Rescue Department of Lapland has evacuated hikers experiencing stomach flu symptoms from the Salonlampi lean-to shelter, Rautulampi day trip hut and Luirojärvi wilderness hut. Hikers in the Urho Kekkonen National Park are instructed to avoid the toilets, huts and other campsites in the outbreak areas for the next week.
Areas around Kiilopää, Salonlampi lean-to shelter, Rautulampi day trip hut and Luirojärvi wilderness hut at the Urho Kekkonen National Park have been struck by a stomach flu outbreak since 29 February.
Hikers in the Urho Kekkonen National Park are instructed to avoid the campsites, toilets and lean-to shelters in the outbreak areas for the next week. This will help keep the infection from spreading from surfaces.
The cause of the disease is currently unknown, but the clinical picture indicates a viral infection. Stomach flu infections can be prevented by washing hands carefully with soap and water. Even patients with only mild symptoms should always stay in their hotel room, cottage or tent to avoid contact with outsiders. This will help prevent further infections.
– The epidemic usually calms down in a week. If a person has been in touch with an infected person during the last three days, or has even slight symptoms, don’t head off for a skiing trip, says Markku Broas, Chief Physician of Infectious Diseases at the Wellbeing Services County of Lapland.
March is peak skiing season, particularly in Saariselkä and Kiilopää where many popular trails to the Urho Kekkonen National Park start from. All those moving around the National Park are advised to observe good hand hygiene.
– Many hikers are able to travel long distances on the spring snows. Maintaining good hygiene is important everywhere, even in remote areas. Surely no one would want to catch a stomach bug in the wilderness, says Kristiina Aikio, Recreational Amenities Specialist at National Parks Finland. Metsähallitus´s National Parks Finland is responsible for the management of the national parks.
The infection control units of the Wellbeing Services County of Lapland will instruct health care service providers on the testing of the infected persons separately.
Rescue Department has evacuated several people from the park
The outbreaks were detected when the Rescue Department of Lapland noticed similarities between rescue operations performed in the area, which all involved the evacuation of groups experiencing stomach flu symptoms. On Thursday, 29 February, seven people were evacuated with a snowmobile from the Salonlampi lean-to shelter. On Sunday, 3 March, four people were evacuated from the Rautulampi day trip hut. On 5 March, a two-person group was evacuated from the Luirojärvi wilderness hut. On the 6 March further 8 people were evacuated. They had skied in the area of Kiilopää, Suomunruoktu, Tuiskunkuru and Luirojärvi. The total number of people evacuated is now 21.
– The number of evacuations has been exceptional, and we have also had to use a helicopter to evacuate infected persons, says Timo Nyholm, Executive Fire Officer at the Rescue Department of Lapland.