State epidemiologist resigns, record number of TBE infections, and other news from Sweden on Tuesday.
State epidemiologist resigns, record number of TBE infections, and other news from Sweden on Tuesday.
State epidemiologist resigns, record number of TBE infections, and other news from Sweden on Tuesday.
State epidemiologist resigns citing ‘serious shortcomings in medical expertise’
Sweden’s state epidemiologist Magnus Gisslén has resigned, writing an article in the Dagens Nyheter newspaper in which he attacked what he claimed were “serious shortcomings at the agency, concerning both leadership and medical expertise.”
Gisslén was appointed to the post in September 2023, taking over from Anders Lindblom, who himself took over from Anders Tegnell, who held daily press conferences during the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2022.
In his article, Gisslén complained that the agency had removed the state epidemiologist’s decision-making powers after Tegnell, meaning he and his predecessor had only had advisory roles without any decision-making powers. When Karin Tegmark Wisell was replaced by Olivia Wigzell, there was no longer anyone with a medical background in the agency’s leadership, he said.
“During this time, I have put a lot of effort into trying to strengthen the authority’s scientific foundation and medical expertise. However, my involvement in this issue has become so inconvenient for the authority that they now do not want me to continue. I have therefore chosen to resign,” he said.
Swedish vocabulary: obekvämt – inconvenient
Former national security advisor tells court: “I have no excuse”
Sweden’s former national security advisor, Henrik Landerholm, has told the Attunda court in Sollentuna that he has no explanation or excuse for forgetting classified papers at a conference hotel outside Stockholm, on the first day of his trial for “serious negligence”.
“I have no excuse for the Gällöfsa incident,” he said in the court room, as he explained the sequence of events that had led to him leaving the documents in the hotel in March 2023. “It was unfortunate and inept.”
The prosecutor claims that Landerholm is gulity of serious negligence with documents which, if obtained by an enemy, could cause serious damage to Sweden’s security. Landerholm risks being fines or even potentially imprisoned for up to a year.
Swedish vocabulary: olämplig – inept/improper/out of line
Kiruna’s wooden churched is moved today
After a year of preparations, a trailer will today move Kiruna church 5km to its new position. The church 40 metres wide, and weighing 672 tons will be moved carefully to its new place.
The church began rolling on Tuesday morning, and is expected to be in its new place by the end of the day.
Swedish vocabulary: olämplig – inept/improper/out of line
Sweden sees record tick-borne encephalitis cases
A record number of Swedes were infected with tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) this summer, according new figures from the Public Health Agency of Sweden.
By August 18th, 269 people in Sweden had contracted the tick-borne disease, the highest number ever recorded this early in the season.
“There are many factors interacting to yield these high numbers,” said Caroline Schönning, an investigator at the agency, saying that climate change had extended the tick season at the same time as drawing more people outdoors.
Some of those who contract TBE experience few symptoms, but in serious cases, the illness can follow a dangerous pattern: initial sickness, a period of recovery, then a relapse. “It is a very serious disease that can affect the nervous system,” Schönning said.
Swedish vocabulary: att samspela – to interact