The number of cases of malaria diagnoses in Finland last year was a new record for this decade. More than 40 people were treated for the disease. In addition, over 30 people sought treatment for Dengue fever infections. Until last year the annual number of cases of Dengue fever has been around 20.
According to Eeva Pekkanen of the National Institute for Health and Welfare, many Finns have perhaps forgotten that various travel destinations require different health precautions.
"People travel on tourist holidays to the tropics and don't necessarily remember that a holiday in Africa is quite a different thing than a trip to Europe or even to Asia," says Pekkanen.
Although many package tour organizers provide information on their web sites about health risks, not all do, and Pekkanen urges travellers to speak with a doctor before holidaying in the tropics.
