The government is planning changes to social security for immigrants, Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen (NCP) told the news group Uutissuomalainen.

According to the minister, the government is considering a temporary integration support allowance for foreigners arriving in Finland who do not immediately enter employment, reported Iltalehti.

“The goal is to put it out for public consultation by the end of the year,” Grahn-Laasonen said.

Integration support would be available to immigrants who have moved to Finland for various reasons. The minister said it is still being decided how long such support would be provided.

In principle, the support would not apply to Ukrainians in Finland under temporary protection, many of whom currently receive social assistance because they are not eligible for primary benefits.

“The ministry is exploring ways to improve the situation for Ukrainians, for example, by granting them access to general benefits. Of course, the priority is to support them in finding employment,” the minister said.

Additionally, home care support is planned to be limited to those who have lived in Finland or elsewhere in the EU for more than three years.

Last month, Finland’s finance minister Riikka Purra (Finns) announced a series of budget cuts, including plans to eliminate funding for integration programmes.

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Tick-borne encephalitis on the rise

The number of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) cases in Finland has been rising in recent years, Ilta-Sanomat reports. There were 47 cases in 2014, 196 cases last year, and 190 cases have already been reported this year, with numbers expected to exceed previous figures.

In the Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District (HUS) hospital district alone, 80 cases have been recorded this year, with around 10 patients requiring intensive care or treatment, according to Ville Holmberg, chief physician of infectious diseases.

TBE deaths, though rare, have occurred this year as well, including in the HUS hospital district and North Ostrobothnia. Exact figures are unknown, as THL does not track TBE-related deaths.

Anni Koivisto, an expert at the Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare THL, says the increase in registered cases is influenced by factors such as climate warming, as well as greater awareness and improved diagnostics.

Cases of the disease have also been detected in entirely new areas in recent years. According to the TickLive service, maintained by the University of Turku and Pfizer, nearly 136,000 tick sightings have been reported this year — more than double last year’s 63,000 reports.

TBE develops in two stages. The mild first stage often goes unnoticed, but 20–30 percent progress to encephalitis, with fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea and possible neurological issues. Hospitalisation is often required, and there is no specific treatment.

The TBE vaccine protects only against tick-borne encephalitis. It does not prevent tick bites or Lyme disease. It is free for residents in certain risk areas, which Koivisto says will likely expand, increasing vaccination coverage.

Promise of sunshine

Finland can expect more mainly bright, high-pressure–driven autumn weather well into October, according to the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.

Iltalehti reports a Foreca forecast that high pressure will build over Finland by the end of the week, according to Foreca, bringing warm air from the west. Most areas will stay dry, though some rain is expected in parts of Lapland.

The weather will be sunny or partly cloudy. At night, fog will form across various regions, and in some areas it may take well into the day to clear, Foreca notes.

This week is expected to be mostly dry and warmer than average, with southern Finland seeing near-normal temperatures. For week 43 (October 20–26), the forecast to remain generally warmer than usual, though long-range predictions become less reliable, IL points out.