The case in summary: Corona researcher Arne Søraas warned in 2022 that Norway would experience higher mortality. Søraas points to the late effects of covid-19 as the most likely cause of the increased mortality. Storting representative Morten Wold from the Progress Party demands an answer from the Minister of Health about the increased mortality among young people. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI) denies that they do not take international research into the late effects of covid-19 into account. FHI plans to investigate the causes of the increased mortality among people under the age of 60 in 2023. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. Recently, news reported on a significant excess mortality among young people in Norway. Calculations carried out by researchers show that more people aged 0-59 have lost their lives in the last two years than the trend would suggest. – It is tragic Researcher and infectious disease medicine researcher Arne Søraas is one of several who have pointed to the late effects of covid-19 as the most likely cause. As early as November 2022, he warned of what he feared would come. – I said that we would experience higher mortality and lower life expectancy if we let the virus spread freely. Now we see that it also happens among young people. It is tragic, says Søraas. At the time, the researcher pointed to a large study which showed that the risk of becoming seriously ill and dying increases every time you are infected with the coronavirus. – Should lead to full washing-up At the time, the Institute of Public Health pointed to what they believed to be weaknesses in the study, and indicated that there was great uncertainty about the extent and severity of any late effects of covid-19. Søraas believes that the high mortality must have consequences, if it turns out that late effects of covid-19 are the cause. – It should lead to a full washing up. A review of the decisions that were made, and whether anything could have been done differently, says Søraas. The news about the high mortality among young people has made an impression on the researcher. – I am a doctor, and our aim is to reduce mortality. It is very sad. I think of all those concerned, and of how much could have been avoided. It gives me a feeling of having failed, says Søraas. Demands answers from the Minister of Health The increased mortality among young people has also attracted attention among politicians. Morten Wold in the Storting’s health and care committee is now demanding an answer from the Minister of Health. – It is a serious situation, and the minister has the ultimate responsibility. Norwegian health authorities should take in available research from other skilled environments, so that we can get answers to why there is increased mortality among young people after the pandemic, says the Frp politician. Storting representative Morten Wold from the Progress Party believes the increased mortality among young people is disturbing. Photo: Hakon Rusdal Subject director Preben Aavitsland stated at the latest in January this year that FHI places the most emphasis on the acute effects, which lead to admission to hospital, the intensive care unit or death. Wold says he understands that the health authorities must focus on the acute consequences, but believes that FHI must also assess the effect late sequelae has on public health. – I think it is strange. Norwegians trust the health authorities, in almost every context. They follow the advice that comes. Then it is expected that FHI takes over what is available from other research, and implements this in its work, so that it also becomes a basis for the advice FHI gives to Norwegian citizens, says Wold. He has now sent two written questions to the Minister of Health, Ingvild Kjerkol. Wold believes the situation requires quick action, and refers to the transport sector which has fast-working commissions to reduce the death toll. Wold believes this is an approach that can also be relevant in the health sector, under special circumstances. – I find it disturbing. Mortality among relatively young people has slowly but surely decreased over many years. Right after the pandemic, you see that deaths suddenly rise. There must be a reason for that, says Wold. Question to the Minister of Health and Care Photo: Per Sveinung Larsen / news Question: Morten Wold (FrP): Considering the recent overview of excess mortality among young people in Norway and concerns about covid-19 as a possible cause, how does the minister plan to address this development to protect public health, especially considering the potential long-term effects of the pandemic? Reason: For the first time in over twenty years, excess mortality has been recorded among young people in Norway, with a marked increase in deaths in the 20-39 age group since the pandemic began. Statistician Richard Aubrey White from FHI points to covid-19 as a likely explanation, citing studies showing an increased risk of death after infection. This development has caused concern among researchers and health professionals, given that previous trends showed a continuous decline in mortality among young people . FHI confirms the excess mortality, but is waiting for more thorough analyzes to determine the causes. This phenomenon signals potentially serious public health consequences of the pandemic, which may not have been fully recognized in current infection control strategies. Question: Morten Wold (FrP): What will the Minister of Health do to acquire a knowledge base that makes it possible to assure the Norwegian people that we will not experience a new increase in mortality and deaths after the next wave of covid-19? Reason: As early as 2022, scientific studies indicated that covid-19 could lead to increased mortality in the months following acute illness. These studies also showed an increase in the incidence of serious diseases, including cardiovascular disease. As a consequence, Norwegian researchers warned of a potential increase in mortality in Norway. The figures for 2022 from the Cause of Death Register and for 2023 from the Population Register now show a strong increase in the number of deaths, as was warned about. It is estimated that the excess mortality was over 1,800 people due to cardiovascular diseases alone in 2022 and over 500 people under the age of 60 in 2023. Covid-19 also increases the risk of long-term illnesses/diseases, such as e.g. poorer memory. The observed excess mortality is worrying, especially as it breaks a more than 20-year trend of falling mortality in Norway. This requires rapid action, as many deaths can potentially be prevented with the right knowledge. In the transport sector, fast-acting commissions have been effective in reducing the death toll, an approach that may also be relevant in the health sector under special circumstances. We are now probably between two waves of covid-19 and there is reason to fear that we will 19 wave will see an increase in death tolls. It is important for the Storting to know that, before the next wave of covid-19, the Minister of Health has secured sufficient knowledge about the increase in mortality that we are now seeing in Norway, so that this time she has a good enough decision-making basis for any advice to the population on infection prevention. It is unfortunate that a long time passes without us getting clarity on why hundreds or thousands of Norwegians die unexpectedly, especially when several researchers believe that the cause can be prevented by simple measures. FHI: Takes late followers into account FHI denies that they do not follow international research. – We naturally take into account well-documented knowledge about late sequelae, including our own research, when we prepare assessments and advice, says specialist director Preben Aavitsland. He emphasizes that FHI does not pay less attention to late effects, but that it is more about how they assess the research around the topic. – We aim to constantly describe this basis more clearly and in more detail, and will continue to do so, says Aavitsland. Subject director Preben Aavitsland says the FHI takes late sequelae into account in its infection control councils. Photo: Per-Kåre Sandbakk / news He says that FHI will now try to find out why the mortality rate among young people has increased. – We will investigate the reasons for the increased mortality among people under the age of 60 in 2023 together with neighboring countries when the Cause of Death Register for 2023 is complete. It currently appears that Finland is similar to Norway, while Sweden and Denmark have stable mortality in this age group. It may indicate that covid-19 infection is unlikely to be the main explanation, says Aavitsland. He points out that societal changes during the pandemic may have affected illness and death. – In periods, the follow-up of patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes or heart disease was weakened, and many failed to seek health care for less serious ailments. There were also fewer resources for preventive health work, and many moved less and gained weight, says the specialist director. Do not suspect the vaccine After the increased mortality became known, news has received a number of inquiries from readers who fear that the vaccine may be the cause. Many have also called for an analysis that can distinguish between deaths among vaccinated and non-vaccinated people. Subject director Hanne Gulseth at FHI. Photo: FHI Subject director Hanne Gulseth at FHI believes that there is no evidence that the corona vaccines cause increased general mortality in the population. She refers to a Norwegian research study among people who were older than 70 years. It showed reduced mortality among the vaccinated compared to the unvaccinated. – We are now compiling data for younger age groups and with a longer observation time, but the results appear to coincide. We will compile this in scientific articles and reports, says Gulseth. A previous study conducted among young people aged 12 to 29 in the UK showed no increased risk of death in the 12 weeks after receiving the vaccine.
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Corona researcher Arne Søraas warned of higher mortality in Norway in 2022 – news Buskerud – Local news, TV and radio
