First A/H1N1 flu fatal case reported in Finnish capital

A 2-year-old Helsinki child has died from the A/H1N1 flu, marking the first fatal case in the Finnish capital, the National Institute for Health and Welfare said Friday.

The child had been vaccinated against the flu a week ago, but still contracted the virus early this week. The child was sent to hospital on Wednesday and died Thursday, the institute said.

Finland had previously counted six A/H1N1 flu related fatalities, all of whom had been chronically ill except for an 8-year old girl.

A/H1N1 flu has been spreading in all parts of Finland, particularly in the populous southern area.

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health said the number of Finland's confirmed cases of A/H1N1 flu totaled 2,940 by Nov. 12, but the real number could be in the tens of thousands.

Finland is now inoculating people belonging to high risk groups, including health care personnel, pregnant women, chronic patients under 65 years of age and children aged 6 to 36 months.

Source: Xinhua