"As a reminder, yesterday, on October 28 flu epidemic in the Ternopil Region, which had appeared a week ago, mowed down nearly 10,000 of residents. Moreover - unknown virus has already killed seven people. Ministry of Health has confirmed 20 deaths from pneumonia in Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv Regions. By Yulia Makoveeva, MIGnews.com.ua"
Ukraine’s swine flu death toll rises to nearly 50
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/health/news/article_1510560.php/Ukraine-s-swine-flu-death-toll-rises-to-nearly-50-Roundup
Oct 31, 2009
Kiev - The death toll from a swine flu outbreak in Ukraine has risen to nearly 50, President Viktor Yushchenko announced Saturday, having put the number of dead at only 11 the day before.
Quoted by the Interfax news agency, Yushchenko said the epidemic was spreading at a furious pace, with a total of 48 deaths and around 150,000 people sick.
The president said that alone in Lviv region in the country’s west, more than 60,000 people had been infected with the H1N1 virus.
All schools, kindergartens, and universities were closed for a three-week period on Friday. A ban on massed gatherings - forcing the wholesale cancellation of concerts and political rallies - was also in effect.
Ukraine’s national security council also approved the equivalent of 55 million dollars in emergency funding, for swine flu control, and earlier Saturday the Ukrainian government announced new measures to control the spread of the virus.
Health Minister Vasyl Kniazevych told Channel 5 television that the flu was thought still to be limited to the country’s western provinces as of Saturday morning, but because of the number of suspected cases, a spread was likely.
‘The country must prepare for a wider outbreak,’ Kniazevych said. ‘Its direction of movement is towards central Ukraine.’
More than 80,000 people in the swine flu outbreak area had registered with authorities as displaying possible flu symptoms, but because of the similarity of swine flu symptoms to those of common flu, health workers were struggling to estimate the extent of the swine flu’s spread, Kniazevych said.
‘We had a problem with identifying the (swine flu) antibody in flu sufferers,’ he said. ‘There is a mass of work we have to do.’
Panic purchasing of flu remedies, surgical masks, and even citrus fruits took place in most major cities in the former Soviet republic, 1+1 television reported.
The swine flu deaths thus far have been limited to the nine western provinces, most along the borders with Slovakia, Poland, and Romania.
Shortages of over-the-counter medicines used to treat the common flu were reported as far away as the eastern city Zaporizhia, some 900 kilometres from the epicentre of the outbreak.
Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko was scheduled to hold an emergency meeting with regional health officials Saturday, to discuss new disease control measures.
Invoking a rarely-used law allowing the state to take temporary control of private property, Tymoshenko declared all health-related organizations in the country, including privately-owned health clinics and hospitals, to be ‘directly subordinate’ to the government, effective immediately.
The government would pay particular attention to medical supply retailers, to head off artificial goods shortages and price gouging, she said, in comments reported by the Unian news agency.
Retail price spikes of as much as 300 per cent for cold and flu remedies have taken place in recent years in Ukraine, during avian flu outbreaks.
Tymoshenko claimed privately-operated chemists in the country were ‘absolutely supplied in full volume with all necessary medical supplies,’ contradicting spot reports of shortages.
Trains operated by the national railroad Ukrzhelesnitsiya were running according to schedule, but staff were ordered to wear surgical masks, and instructed to report passengers who appear to have flu symptoms.
Medical personnel aboard ‘every passenger train’ were available to provide first aid to potential flu sufferers, and would report people treated to the Health Ministry, according to statement on the Ukrzhelesnitsiya website.
Traffic in Ukrainian airports and intercity highways meanwhile appeared to be at normal levels despite a call by Tymoshenko for Ukrainians to avoid long-distance travel if possible.
Traffic police and airport security personnel have been briefed to screen travellers visually, Tymoshenko said.
Ukraine
In the Lviv region picked up the virus, more than 400 police
31/Oct/09
In the Lviv region of viral infection to hurt more than 400 members of the militia.
According to an UNIAN correspondent said the head of the Lviv city Department of Internal Affairs Igor CEC, Lviv viral infection to hurt more than 100 members of the militia.
He noted that most mass began to hurt the district militia officer, employees of criminal investigation and patrol service.
“A high level of morbidity among our employees, who are most in contact with people. Currently there is no possibility to provide them with masks, respirators. While in Lviv fully equipped with masks, only employees of traffic police “, - said I. CEC.
As UNIAN reported in the Department of Public Relations General Directorate Ministry of Internal Affairs in the Lvov region, currently in the whole region recorded more than 400 patients policemen.
http://www.unian.net/rus/news/news-344314.html
Ukraine
Fatalities from viral pneumonia Prykarpattya not been abroad
31/Oct/09
Fatalities from viral pneumonia Prykarpattya not located abroad.
On this today, UNIAN reported in the press service of the Ivano-Frankivsk regional state administration.
According to the leaders of the General Directorate of Health Governor, in no laboratory confirmed cases of illness in the “California flu. Tests for such a diagnosis is sent to Kiev and abroad.
Similarly know is that six of the dead were not abroad, and none of them are residents of Ivano-Frankivsk.
As UNIAN reported earlier, of today in Ivano-Frankivsk region of an unidentified virus had died 8 people.
Medical care since the beginning of the epidemic turned 24 thousand 90 patients, of whom 45% - children under the age of 14 years. Were 1,293 hospitalized patients. Over the last day for assistance, please contact 6 thousand 566 inhabitants of the province (of which - 2 925 children). Of these, 231 patients hospitalized persons (of them - 68 children). Now in anesthesiology and intensive care unit is 37 people (among them - 5 children), 5 pregnant women are receiving mechanical ventilation. State of such patients is stable, there is no threat to life.
At Prykarpattya established a working group, which monitors the situation with the provision of pharmacy network of essential drugs and remedies, as well as price controls on them.
http://www.unian.net/rus/news/news-344318.html
Ukraine
At Bukovina flu epidemic took the life already 5 people
31/Oct/09
On the morning of Oct. 31 from influenza in Bukovina dead another man. Thus, the epidemic in the Chernivtsi region has already taken the lives of five people, 15 are in critical condition in intensive care units of more than 170 bukovintsev - under the supervision of doctors in hospitals.
According to an UNIAN correspondent, reported this today at a press conference in Chernivtsi said head of the health of Chernivtsi Regional State Administration Igor SHKROBANETS and chief medical officer of Bukovina Alexander SVITLICHNY.
In the dead just diagnosed “swine flu” only one person in four - sample for confirmation of the H1N1 virus are in the laboratories of Kiev and London, says.
According to experts, over the past two days in Bukovina sick more people than ever last week.
Identified companies which will manufacture in the Chernivtsi region protective masks. To ensure their raw materials, as directed by the government seized 180 kilometers gauze fabric from the reserve.
In all institutions of education - preschool, school, extracurricular, universities of all levels of accreditation terminated studies. According to the deputy chairman of governors, was secured exit nonresident students from the city. In the city the remaining 5% of students, to care for sick students who do not require hospitalization, in the dormitories.
AOH President Vladimir Kulish asked the chairman of the State Border Service to close the local checkpoints at state borders.
31 October, to Bukovina received only slightly more than 1 thousand doses of the drug “Tamiflu”. Need Bukovina in this preparation is at least 10 thousand doses reported in the RSA.
http://www.unian.net/rus/news/news-344326.html
Ukraine soon to produce up to 1 m face masks a day to protect against flu, says president
31.10.2009 16:45
“Ukrainian enterprises will in three or four days start to produce up to one million face masks a day, Ukrainian President Viktor Yuschenko has said. “I held the necessary talks, and we’ll soon involve two state-run enterprises, and within three or four days they will produce up to one million gauze masks a day,” he said at a council in Lviv on Saturday. He also ordered local government agencies to shut all markets.”
http://www.interfax.com.ua/eng/main/23421
Ukraine
Ukraine may soon get its own Tamiflu?
31/Oct/09
Pharmaceutical companies Kharkiv region ready for two weeks to set up production effective influenza drug.
According to an UNIAN correspondent, reported this at a briefing in Kharkov, chairman of the State Administration Arsen Avakov.
He noted that farmpredpriyatiya field ready for two weeks to manufacture the drug “Tamiflu”, or drugs with similar effects.
“We see an opportunity in the shortest time to produce the drug, similar to Tamiflu, or directly” Tamiflu “in one of the Kharkiv enterprises. With optimistic developments, we are ready to begin production Nov. 15, “- said A. Avakov.
Chief of the General Directorate of Health of Alexander A. Galatan confirmed that the Kharkiv enterprises have the appropriate certificates for European production of the most effective drug to combat the “California” flu.
“We can buy from the manufacturer of the substance, ie a substance which is the base for the production of the drug, and to make it here”, - said A. A. Galatan.
The President also assured the governors that the leadership of the area will do everything possible to avoid deficit gauze bandages.
“It is absolutely obvious situation that today’s sale of these masks is equal to zero and the stocks of these masks is not. Expect that for such a large territory, which is the Kharkiv region and Kharkiv, gauze bandages to arrive in sufficient quantity through the central government is unlikely to be reasonable, so we decided to manufacture these masks are here “- said A. Avak.
According to him, the mask will be made of gauze from the state reserve.
http://www.unian.net/rus/news/news-344330.html
_________________
Ukraine Bans Big Crowds to Combat Swine Flu
October 31, 2009 - New York Times
MOSCOW — “The Ukrainian government is taking some of the sternest measures in the world against the spread of the swine flu virus, ordering schools nationwide to close for three weeks, banning public gatherings and imposing restrictions on travel...The virus is spreading across Eastern Europe, but it was not clear why Ms. Tymoshenko chose to undertake stronger moves, like closing schools nationwide, than her counterparts in Russia and Poland.
There were indications, however, that the government’s response was being influenced by electoral politics. Ms. Tymoshenko, one of the leading candidates, and her bitter rival, President Viktor A. Yushchenko, who is far behind in opinion polls in his bid for re-election, both sought to make clear that they were aggressively addressing the outbreak...On Friday, Mr. Yushchenko criticized Ms. Tymoshenko, saying that he had ordered an inquiry into why the country was not, in his opinion, prepared.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/01/world/europe/01ukraine.html
Ukraine gripped by swine flu fears
Influenza A (H1N1)world news 31/10 19:41 CET
My comment: Note in particular the video. The doctor has his mask only covering his mouth, not his nose.
http://www.euronews.net/2009/10/31/ukraine-gripped-by-swine-flu-fears/
Ukraine’s swine flu epidemic is spreading at an alarming rate. The number of deaths has risen to nearly 50.
President Viktor Yushchenko made the announcement, having put the number of victims at 11 just 24 hours earlier.
The latest figures suggest 150,000 are sick with H1N1.
Schools, universities and playgroups have been closed for the next three weeks. Mass gatherings have also been banned.
Panic buying of masks and flu remedies is sweeping the country according to local media reports.
The government also announced an emergency package of 40 million euros to go towards anti-swine flu measures.
One woman queuing for medicine said:
“What can I say? There is no medicine in the chemists. How come nobody prepared for this epidemic? Children are sick. The elderly are sick. There are no masks, not even basic pills. People are queuing and waiting for supplies to come, but nobody knows if they will come or not.”
Swine flu fear grips Ukraine as death toll dramatically rises
15 min ago - Digital Journal - excerpts
“Ukraine residents have begun panic-buying face masks and influenza medicines as the death toll from the country’s swine flu epidemic rises dramatically in 24 hours.
As an indication of the worry and fear the Ukrainian people are feeling one lady who was queuing for flu medications gave this account, “What can I say? There is no medicine in the chemists. How come nobody prepared for this epidemic? Children are sick. The elderly are sick. There are no masks, not even basic pills. People are queuing and waiting for supplies to come, but nobody knows if they will come or not.”
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/281408
Pneumonia in the Lviv region died 22 chelovekaKolichestvo died of pneumonia in the Lviv region increased to 23 chelovek.Ob was reported in the press service of the state administration.
Total as on the morning of November 1 in the area, there are 78 thousand 102 patients with acute respiratory infections and influenza. Of those hospitalized 1 thousand 799 people. 33 people are in intensive care, one of them a child.
In addition, in a separate box of intensive care Lviv Regional Clinical Hospital there are 39 pregnant women, patients with pneumonia.
Also today, 1 November, it was reported that with a diagnosis of acute pneumonia in a district hospital Balta, Odessa region, died 41-year-old woman.
http://korrespondent.net/tech/health/1013657
Ukraine
The virus killed 23 people in the Lviv region
01/Nov/09
In the Lviv region at 9.00 am on November 1 the number of deaths due to epidemics of influenza and SARS is 23 people. Of these, two children under 14 years old and 21 adults.
It is reported by the official web portal of the Lviv regional state administration.
According to official figures, the number of patients with influenza and SARS in the Lviv region is 78 thousand 102 persons (including children under the age of 14 - 38 thousand 450 adults - 39 thousand 652).
The number of hospitalized - 1 thousand 799 persons (including children under the age of 14 - 639, adults - 1 thousand 160).
In general, the incidence rate in the area is 312.4 per 10 thousand people (with children under 14 years - 967.8 per 10 thousand population).
http://www.unian.net/rus/news/news-344380.html
Ukraine
In the Odessa area woman died from pneumonia
01/Nov/09
With a diagnosis of “acute pneumonia” in a district hospital Balta, Odessa region, died 41-year-old woman who went to the hospital a few days to work in a sewing factory, ignoring the symptoms - high fever and cough.
Express-diagnosis of “California” flu A/N1N1 not confirmed, - the chief of the district department of health UNIAN Larissa STREMINOVSKAYA. - The final results will be known within a few days.
According to her, hits other people with signs of acute infection and pneumonia were recorded, the incidence of SARS and influenza in the Balta area does not exceed the seasonal level.
However, the police department has requested to urgently put in pharmacies Balta district additional batch of drugs for the suppression of influenza virus.
http://www.unian.net/rus/news/news-344366.html
Ukraine
The mayor of Ivano-Frankivsk encourages residents themselves sew gauze bandages
01/Nov/09
City chairman Ivano-Frankivsk Victor ANUSHKEVICHUS encourages residents own sewing gauze bandages.
According to an UNIAN correspondent, he said at a press briefing on October 31.
“I appeal to the inhabitants of the city to gauze bandages produced themselves, - said the mayor. - They are also effective, because going out to only wear masks.
According to him, in pharmacies of the city has “a problem with gauze bandages. The mayor said that from the regional fund Ivano-Frankivsk has allocated 4 thousand bandages, but this is clearly not enough.
V. ANUSHKEVICHUS during the briefing, urged residents of Ivano-Frankivsk, in the first place, “not to panic and keep calm. City chairman said that the antibiotics that residents buy in pharmacies in large cities, are ineffective, and therefore “makes no sense to buy them.” At the same time, he noted that, despite the difficult epidemiological situation, the situation is under control.
In addition, during the briefing it was noted that local governments and health agencies are working seven days a week.
V. ANUSHKEVICHUS also reported that negotiations with the foreign partner cities of Ivano-Frankivsk for assistance in the form of medicines. He said such assistance should come in Ivano-Frankivsk in 2-3 days.
http://www.unian.net/rus/news/news-344363.html
Comment: Some of this IS political; presidential elections are approaching and the prime minister is running as well as the current president
Ukraine
Yushchenko has put in place the NSDC decision on measures in an influenza outbreak
01/Nov/09
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has introduced a decision of the Council of National Security and Defense Council on October 30 “On urgent measures to ensure national security in an outbreak of pandemic influenza in Ukraine.”
As UNIAN reported in the main office of information policy of the Presidential Secretariat, the solution put in place the relevant presidential decree.
In the NSDC decision indicates that the epidemic situation has gained an extremely threatening and unpredictable in nature and poses a threat to national security of Ukraine, the epidemic began in Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv regions during the period 10-12 October. The services of the Ministry of Health delayed reaction to the obvious trends and threats have failed to take necessary preventive measures to reduce threats to life and health. Real assessment of the situation was given only 27-28 October, but the appropriate response measures were not adopted.
Given the lack of willingness of the central and local executive authorities, said the NSDC, to take concerted decisions and inadequate funding of relevant activities, we can predict the further complication of the epidemiological situation, if not taken immediate effective action.
Health Ministry and local executive authorities have demonstrated a lack of willingness to treat patients. At present there is no sufficient medicines and protective equipment, causing panic among residents of the victims of areas.
Lack of clear practical methodology for controlling the disease negatively affects the actions of medical personnel, can lead to medical errors.
Not taken appropriate steps to obtain expert assistance from specialized international organizations that have experience in dealing with similar or similar diseases.
Security and Defense Council tasked the Cabinet of Ministers:
To ensure continued work of the State Emergency Anti-epidemic Commission under Kabmie;
take additional measures to ensure appropriate interagency coordination and collaboration, increase control over the implementation of measures to prevent the spread of pandemic influenza in Ukraine and acute respiratory viral diseases associated with it complications of epidemic and minimize its consequences;
immediately begin implementing a plan of urgent measures to prevent the spread of pandemic influenza in Ukraine and acute respiratory viral diseases;
strengthen monitoring of the epidemiological situation in Ukraine, to forecast the possible consequences of the spread in Ukraine pandemic influenza and acute respiratory viral diseases;
resolved within three days of the allocation of additional funds to finance the complex organizational, health, sanitation, health care, anti-epidemic measures to minimize the effects of the spread of pandemic influenza and acute respiratory viral diseases;
resolved in due course to introduce the issue of procurement of goods, works and services to prevent the spread of pandemic influenza in Ukraine and acute respiratory viral infections on the procedure for procurement of one party without the consent of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine;
provide within a week regional virology laboratory of the State Sanitary-Epidemiological Service and the relevant scientific and medical facilities with necessary equipment, and diagnostic supplies, disinfectants and the like;
without delay to ensure the readiness of health care institutions for medical care, provisioning of medical equipment, antiviral drugs, medical products, including personal protective equipment, as well as vaccines, disinfectants;
a strengthening of anti-epidemic regime and implement a series of disinfection measures in crowded places (airports, railway and bus stations, etc.), childcare, educational institutions, health institutions, cultural institutions, enterprises, organizations and institutions, regardless of ownership ;
implement without delay constraint in conducting mass cultural entertainment and other activities associated with large crowds;
immediately allocate the necessary funds as requested by the Ministry of Health for the purchase of medicines, medical equipment, personal protective equipment, other medical products for the public and the medical staff of the victims;
ensure strict compliance with budgetary discipline in carrying out calculations with the local budgets, as well as the timely execution of payment orders from local budgets and spending units such budgets;
provide an introduction to the established procedure of customs clearance within one day of humanitarian relief supplies (medicines, medical equipment, medical products), which come to Ukraine;
provide for the involvement of medical care medical units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Emergency Situations, the military hospitals of the Ministry of Defense, and, if necessary - to accommodate the spa patients;
take steps to introduce the material incentives of health workers who work in regions with complicated epidemic situation;
provide targeted financing the participation of Defense Ministry and the Emergencies Ministry in the implementation of preventive and treatment activities;
provide preventive protection of health workers.
Ministry of Health should:
introduce a standardized form for filing administrative and territorial units of information on the epidemiological situation, to provide daily monitoring and informing the public three times a day through the media about the epidemic situation on pandemic influenza and acute respiratory viral diseases;
ensure that within two months of operation in full public institution “Ukrainian Center of influenza and acute respiratory infections;
develop and approve a one-day period recommended list of medicines to prevent and treat pandemic influenza and acute respiratory viral diseases and to take measures to ensure continuous availability of medicines in public and community health care facilities and pharmacies;
determine and publish within three days the position of unfair advertising of medicines;
prepare and submit within three days, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to bring humanitarian assistance to the list of medicines, medical equipment, personal protective equipment and other medical products needed to provide adequate medical care, laboratory confirmation of diagnosis, disease prevention among the population;
NSDC Secretary informed daily about the epidemic situation and measures taken to prevent the spread of pandemic influenza and acute respiratory viral diseases in the areas of Crimea, cities Kyiv and Sevastopol.
Ministry of Defense should:
forward in consultation with the Ministry of Health to conduct medical examinations of people and organizations to provide the necessary medical care in the towns, mainly countryside, equipped with necessary medical equipment, medical teams and mobile medical facilities from military hospitals and military medical clinical centers;
ensure the participation of the Ministry of Health in implementing the treatment therapeutic and preventive measures in the regions with the most unfavorable epidemic situation of the regional sanitary-epidemiological units from the virology laboratory staff, as well as the provision of medical care in military medical clinical centers and military hospitals use to provide emergency care AN-26 “Vita” and the health of the helicopter Mi-8.
MOE requested to ensure readiness for the deployment of life-support items in areas with unfavorable epidemiological situation.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall:
visit the next day after receipt from the Ministry of Health list of medicines, medical equipment, medical products, the World Health Organization to provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine in implementing measures to prevent pandemic influenza and to overcome the effects of the spread of infection;
worked out in five days in the prescribed manner the question of bringing humanitarian aid from foreign countries;
help in carrying out the provisions of the Memorandum between the MES and NATO of understanding on the planning for civil emergency and disaster preparedness assistance to Ukraine;
facilitate the implementation of the agreement between the MOE and the European Union with a view to obtaining the necessary assistance for the prevention of pandemic influenza and to overcome the effects of infection.
Council of Ministers of Crimea, regional, Kyiv and Sevastopol city state administration is responsible for:
To ensure continued work of state of emergency anti-epidemic commission and to take immediate steps to prevent the incidence of pandemic influenza and acute respiratory viral diseases;
support the required temperature regime in the institutions and facilities, accommodation, transport, etc.;
provide the necessary organizational, logistical support of the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Service in its efforts to prevent the spread of pandemic influenza and acute respiratory viral diseases;
organize health and educational work among the population about personal protection and prevention of pandemic influenza and acute respiratory viral diseases;
organize the formation of sets of medical and hygiene facilities and free provision of these sets of orphans, children deprived of parental care, children from poor families, women in childbirth, the disabled and elderly people;
within two days to ensure the establishment of day-night hot-lines, with the participation of qualified health workers to inform the public about preventative measures for pandemic influenza and acute respiratory viral diseases;
ensure the readiness of health care institutions to identify individuals with suspected pandemic influenza and acute respiratory viral diseases, provision of adequate medical care in an infectious hospital and at home;
be a possible human and technical assistance to areas affected by the epidemic.
NSDC proposes to the General Prosecutor’s Office to intensify supervision over the observance of laws on the provision of sanitary and epidemic well-being of the population, to protect the population from infectious diseases.
http://www.unian.net/rus/news/news-344381.html
Ukraine
MoH: in Ukraine as a result of epidemics of influenza have died, 53 persons
01/Nov/09
As of November 1 in Ukraine because of a flu epidemic and SARS deaths of 53 people.
In accordance with the operational data of the Ministry of Health, in the Lviv region, 24 people died in the Ternopil - 14 (12 adults, 1 child, 1 pregnant woman), in Ivano-Frankivsk - 8 (7 adults, 1 pregnant woman) and 5 - in Chernivtsi area.
Altogether, according to Health Ministry in Ukraine 184 thousand 919 sick people, of whom were hospitalized - 7 thousand 383 persons, in anesthesiology and intensive care are 123 people (96 adults, 14 children aged 0-6 years, 9 children — aged 6-18 years and 12 pregnant women and mothers.
http://www.unian.net/rus/news/news-344389.html
Swine Flu Fears Grip Ukraine
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125707905202121221.html
JAMES MARSON
KIEV, Ukraine — Ukraine introduced some of the strictest measures in the world on Friday to combat swine flu after a spate of deaths in the west of the country.
Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko imposed travel restrictions, banned public gatherings and closed schools and universities for three weeks after the health ministry declared an epidemic of the H1N1 virus.
The ministry released figures Sunday showing 53 people had died from flu and respiratory infections, although it was unclear how many of these were caused by the H1N1 virus.
Ukrainian embassy in Bulgaria asks for aid to fight new flu virus
http://www.focus-fen.net/index.php?id=n199014
1 November 2009
Sofia. Because of the growing flu epidemic in Ukraine, the embassy of Ukraine in Bulgaria calls on all people who are not indifferent to provide aid to the country, helping it fight the new flu virus. The Ukrainian government has declared quarantine in nine provinces – Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil, Zakarpattia, Chernivtsi, Rivne, Volyn, Khmelnytskyi, and Vinnytsia.
The Ukrainian government adopted a special decree, declaring a three-week holiday in all kindergartens, schools and universities in the country and cancelling all massive events.
The state border control will be tightened.
According to the data of the Healthcare Ministry, Ukraine needs 15,302,487 vaccines and medical equipment and consumables.
Ukraine
The situation with the virus in Ternopil stabilized
01/Nov/09
In Ternopil number of calls ambulances tripled.
According to an UNIAN correspondent, reported this at today’s meeting, members of the executive committee said the chief doctor of the city center ambulance Mikhail Juice.
According to him, yesterday for the day there were 450 calls in the daily rate of 130-160. “At the same time 10% of calls are merely prophylactic, when people do not record any symptoms of any disease”, - said M. Juice, and added that every city served by 19 ambulance.
In turn, the head of city government health Basil BLIHAR reported that no new deaths have been recorded in the city and state of the disease has stabilized.
As of October 31 intensive incidence rate of influenza and SARS in Ternopil was 300.07 cases per 10 thousand population (as of October 30 - 267.03 per 10 thousand population).
“We achieved positive interim results, when the people at the first symptoms, call your doctor at home. Therefore, this figure is growing, but the number hospitalized was not increasing. Moreover, we have begun to prescribe to patients who are in the early days of a declared epidemic diseases treated in the hospital “, - said V. BLIHAR. Now, he said, were hospitalized in the town of 270 people with diseases of varying severity.
http://www.unian.net/rus/news/news-344400.html
INFLUENZA PANDEMIC (H1N1) 2009: UKRAINE
31-OCT-2009 ProMed
- excerpts
.... Russia Today is reporting that it is A/H1N1 or Californian Flu [i.e., the A/California/7/2009 strain from which the current pandemic vaccines are derived - Mod.CP] and the total number of deaths is closer to 40.
Prime Minister Timoshenko [of Ukraine] stated, “Express-tests cannot provide a hundred percent verification of the virus; they give only 50 percent accuracy. That’s why blood [samples from] those who died were sent to special laboratories for further testing, and only this morning it was confirmed that at least 11 deaths were caused by the A/H1N1 [pandemic 2009] virus.”
Ukraine confirms 39 swine flu deaths
KIEV, November 1 (RIA Novosti) - Swine flu has been the cause of 39 deaths in Ukraine while over 150,000 people are believed to have been infected with the virus, the Ukrainian Health Ministry said on its website.
The A/H1N1 virus, known as the swine flu, originated in the Tirnopol Region in western Ukraine and is believed to have spread to the neighboring Ivano-Frankovsk, Lvov and some other regions.
As of October 31, 14 people died from swine flu in the Lvov region, 13 in the Tirnopol region, six in the Ivano-Frankovsk region, three in the Chernovtsy region, two in the Rovno region and one person in the Volyn region, the ministry’s website said. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said on Saturday that 48 people had died of the virus.”
http://en.rian.ru/world/20091101/156668840.html
Situation Update No. 9
On 01.11.2009 at 03:48 GMT+2
The death toll from a swine flu outbreak in Ukraine has risen to nearly 50, President Viktor Yushchenko announced Saturday, having put the number of dead at only 11 the day before. Quoted by the Interfax news agency, Yushchenko said the epidemic was spreading at a furious pace, with a total of 48 deaths and around 150,000 people sick. The president said that alone in Lviv region in the country’s west, more than 60,000 people had been infected with the H1N1 virus. All schools, kindergartens, and universities were closed for a three-week period on Friday. A ban on massed gatherings - forcing the wholesale cancellation of concerts and political rallies - was also in effect. Ukraine’s national security council also approved the equivalent of 55 million dollars in emergency funding, for swine flu control, and earlier Saturday the Ukrainian government announced new measures to control the spread of the virus. Health Minister Vasyl Kniazevych told Channel 5 television that the flu was thought still to be limited to the country’s western provinces as of Saturday morning, but because of the number of suspected cases, a spread was likely. “The country must prepare for a wider outbreak,” Kniazevych said. “Its direction of movement is towards central Ukraine.”
More than 80,000 people in the swine flu outbreak area had registered with authorities as displaying possible flu symptoms, but because of the similarity of swine flu symptoms to those of common flu, health workers were struggling to estimate the extent of the swine flu’s spread, Kniazevych said. “We had a problem with identifying the (swine flu) antibody in flu sufferers,” he said. “There is a mass of work we have to do.” Panic purchasing of flu remedies, surgical masks, and even citrus fruits took place in most major cities in the former Soviet republic, 1+1 television reported. The swine flu deaths thus far have been limited to the nine western provinces, most along the borders with Slovakia, Poland, and Romania. Shortages of over-the-counter medicines used to treat the common flu were reported as far away as the eastern city Zaporizhia, some 900 kilometres from the epicentre of the outbreak. Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko was scheduled to hold an emergency meeting with regional health officials Saturday, to discuss new disease control measures. Invoking a rarely-used law allowing the state to take temporary control of private property, Tymoshenko declared all health-related organizations in the country, including privately-owned health clinics and hospitals, to be “directly subordinate” to the government, effective immediately.
The government would pay particular attention to medical supply retailers, to head off artificial goods shortages and price gouging, she said, in comments reported by the Unian news agency. Retail price spikes of as much as 300 per cent for cold and flu remedies have taken place in recent years in Ukraine, during avian flu outbreaks. Tymoshenko claimed privately-operated chemists in the country were “absolutely supplied in full volume with all necessary medical supplies,” contradicting spot reports of shortages. Trains operated by the national railroad Ukrzhelesnitsiya were running according to schedule, but staff were ordered to wear surgical masks, and instructed to report passengers who appear to have flu symptoms. Medical personnel aboard “every passenger train” were available to provide first aid to potential flu sufferers, and would report people treated to the Health Ministry, according to statement on the Ukrzhelesnitsiya website. Traffic in Ukrainian airports and intercity highways meanwhile appeared to be at normal levels despite a call by Tymoshenko for Ukrainians to avoid long-distance travel if possible. Traffic police and airport security personnel have been briefed to screen travellers visually, Tymoshenko said.
Situation Update No. 8
On 01.11.2009 at 03:02 GMT+2
Ukraine’s swine flu epidemic is spreading at an alarming rate. The number of deaths has risen to nearly 50. President Viktor Yushchenko made the announcement, having put the number of victims at 11 just 24 hours earlier. The latest figures suggest 150,000 are sick with H1N1. Schools, universities and playgroups have been closed for the next three weeks. Mass gatherings have also been banned. Panic buying of masks and flu remedies is sweeping the country according to local media reports. The government also announced an emergency package of 40 million euros to go towards anti-swine flu measures. One woman queuing for medicine said: “What can I say? There is no medicine in the chemists. How come nobody prepared for this epidemic? Children are sick. The elderly are sick. There are no masks, not even basic pills. People are queuing and waiting for supplies to come, but nobody knows if they will come or not.” The price of flu medicines rose by as much as 300 per cent in Ukraine during the previous bird flu outbreak.
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