Sweden reported its first corona case last January. A 20-year-old woman returning from a trip to the Wuhan area of ​​China was tested positive and isolated at Ryhov County Hospital in Jönköping.

But she may have been far from the first with the infection in Sweden. State epidemiologist Anders Tegnell sees it as probable that occasional coronary cases occurred in Sweden as early as November.

- I think you can find occasional cases among Wuhan travelers who were there in November – December last year. It doesn't sound at all strange but very natural, Anders Tegnell tells TT.

In a text message to SVT News Anders Tegnell writes that the possible corona falls do not change anything today. When asked if the cases may have affected the spread of infection in Sweden, he answers briefly: "No". 

Will not be mapped

However, mapping patients who at the end of last year sought medical care for typical covid symptoms such as pneumonia or influenza is not relevant right now.

- There is nothing that is discussed in any structured way. Right now, it doesn't feel like we want to burden healthcare with those kinds of investigations. They have a lot of other things to do and that does not lead to any action, Tegnell says.

"Would be of value"

By contrast, the state epidemiologist believes it may be important to find out how the virus got spread in China, how it behaved at the beginning of the infection course and how the infection spread from animal to human.

- There are not many times we have been able to detect the spread of infection from animals to humans by brand new viruses. We don't have much knowledge of how things are going in reality, ”says Tegnell.

- It would be of value to see how to protect against this type of development in the future.