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Swine flu expected in Svalbard
Locals returning from travels seen as main threat; officials ready, but limited in number and resources

A poster in the waiting room at Longyearbyen Hospital offers basic safeguards to prevent flu infection. More information in English and Norwegian is available at www.pandemi.no.

Tens of thousands of tourists may not have infected Svalbard with A(H1N1) flu this summer, but officials say locals returning from travels are likely to bring the disease with them, posing a greater risk due to their longer and more intimate contact with the community.

Preparations are underway, including vaccinating medical staff and contingency plans if the illness, also known as swine flu, cause a shortage of emergency personnel. The Svalbard governor's office is recommending "people who think or know that they are infected postpone their trip to Svalbard until they are symptom-free," but no official travel restrictions are in place or being recommended by health officials.

There were 162,380 laboratory-confirmed cases of the flu and 1,154 deaths as of Aug. 4, according to the World Health Organization, although actual numbers are believed to be somewhat higher. The totals are low compared to the average of 3 million to 5 million flu cases causing up to 500,000 deaths annually, but the potential infection rate and severity of H1N1 has many areas taking extraordinary measures.

Schools, colleges and cinema halls in India's commercial capital of Mumbai, for instance, have been ordered to shut for three to seven days after federal health officials reported 1,078 people of 5,000 nationwide tested positive for H1N1. China has imposed quarantines in infected areas and the U.S., one of the hardest-hit countries, is preparing its largest vaccination campaign in at least 50 years as it expects a second wave of infections as students return to school.

An international youth camp in the western Norwegian town of Gloppen was shut down in late July when 37 of 1,700 participants developed H1N1 flu symptoms. All six Norwegian border guard stations on the Norwegian-Russian border have also been isolated after 50 of 600 personnel were infected.

There were about 200 confirmed cases of swine flu in 18 of Norway’s 19 counties at the end of July, according to the Norwegian Health Directorate.

Tourists, researchers and others have been arriving in Svalbard in large numbers since March, when the virus was originally detected in Mexico, but a visitor is a lower risk than locals residents who have been in other countries for several weeks, stated Trond Egil Hansen, a doctor at Longyearbyen Hospital, in an e-mail interview.

"The locals that return from holiday are supposed to be in tighter contact with other locals living in Longyearbyen," he wrote. "The risk of transmitting A(H1N1) is regarded as greater when you are living together and working together than having tourists walking around."

A concern is the limited number of medical and aviation workers in Longyearbyen, and what happens if they become ill. Hansen said. But the hospital is prepared to deal with cases locally unless they become severe.

"If someone gets seriously ill and is in need of treatment with respirator for some time they will have to be transfered to Tromsø," he wrote. "Anyone infected and not seriously ill would be recommended to stay at home and minimize contact with others."

But Hansen said those experiencing symptoms such as high fever, coughing and muscle ache should be tested at the hospital for the virus.

Vaccinations are expected to be available by the beginning of October, but initially only in limited quantities, Hansen added.

"We are expected from the health authorities to give highest priority to those who will have to deal with the ill," he wrote. "That is not only the hospital staff, but also some important collaboration partners. Next will be those at risk of complicated flu, which includes some chronic diseases such as heart and lung disease, and diabetes."

If we get enough vaccines through the autumn we intend to offer vaccinations to the whole population in Longyearbyen."

Airport staff will focus on vital duties such as flights and rescues if a worker shortage results from infections.

Students and employees at The University Centre In Svalbard are being told not to go to work or attend classes if they have symptoms such as fever, coughing and sneezing. They also are being told to report such symptoms to school officials. Classes, the catina and field studies and other events may also be canceled with short or no notice.

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