Adenovirus cases decline at Kainuu Brigade as restrictions remain in place

Cases of adenovirus at Kainuu Brigade have continued to decline. Since early September, the number of sick individuals in the barracks has been noticeably decreasing. Brigade Chief Jukka Vuorisalmi reports that approximately 90 to 100 conscripts are seeking care at the health center daily. Additionally, the prevalence of the adenovirus in testing has significantly dropped.

“While we have not officially declared the epidemic over, we are moving in a much better direction,” says Vuorisalmi. Restrictions at the brigade remain in place, as the immunity of those affected may be weakened, and other viruses are still circulating. Discussions regarding the possibility of lifting these restrictions are set for this week, with potential relaxations as early as next week.

Currently, two conscripts are hospitalized, with ten others on bed rest; 1 to 2 of these are believed to be adenovirus patients. The virus has not spread among staff members except for a few isolated cases. “For some reason, this has primarily impacted otherwise healthy young individuals,” notes Vuorisalmi. He estimates that the number of sick conscripts over recent weeks has surpassed the brigade’s total capacity of 2,700, complicating assessments due to limited resources for testing everyone.

Adenovirus has been a concern at Kainuu Brigade since August, and Vuorisalmi previously remarked that the volume of cases has been surprising compared to other military units. “This has indeed been a lengthy period. We have organized catch-up training for those conscripts who have been absent due to health safety protocols,” he adds. The catch-up training will continue for several weeks to ensure that as many conscripts as possible reach the required skill level before their discharge.