Sun, Nov 22 2009

Ukraine hit by swine flu

Mon, Nov 02 2009 13:03 CET byGabriel Hershman 3441 Views
Ukraine hit by swine flu

Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, right, holds a packet with the antiviral drug Tamiflu, used to treat H1N1 virus, as she talks to journalists at Kiev's Boryspil airport on November 2 2009.

Ukraine has introduced some of the world's strictest measures against swine flu after its death toll rose to 53 people.

Prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko has now imposed travel restrictions, banned public gatherings and closed schools and universities for three weeks. More than 191 000 Ukrainians have now registered with public health authorities as suffering from flu, of whom 83 000 were children. 

Long queues began forming at pharmacies in the capital Kiev from October 30 onwards. Many pharmacies ran out of medication and face masks. Some commentaors have attributed the frenzied reaction down to people's lack of trust in the authorities.

The ban on large gatherings will bring a halt to campaign rallies ahead of a contentious presidential election scheduled for January 17.

The flu outbreak has seen both president and prime minister issuing a number of orders to combat the outbreak by making masks and medication available. Yushchenko said he would like to see "more consistent steps from the government," and Viktor Yanukovych, leader of the opposition and a frontrunner for the ballot, called for the health minister to be dismissed.

A team from the World Health Organisation was due to arrive in Ukraine on November 2 to assist the authorities.

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