# 3966
A roundup of some of the stories coming out of the Ukraine include an updated death toll (109), estimated vaccine needs for about 25% of the country, aid from US Ukrainian groups, and finally a long – and fairly critical - feature report from staff journalists covering story.
First, this translated article from Dutchy on Flutrackers.
In Ukraine, influenza and SARS are sick for more than 760 thousand people
november 6 2009
In Ukraine, influenza and SARS are sick for more than 760 thousand people
In Ukraine, 762 thousand registered 835 cases of influenza and SARS, including 32 - virus A/N1N1.
On Friday, November 6, said chief state sanitary doctor of Ukraine Alexander Bilovol. "Today, from complications of influenza deaths of 109 people hospitalized 33.979 thousand people," - he said.
According to him, at present 32 cases of laboratory confirmed infection of swine flu, 14 have died. Earlier Friday, the same figures announces the Ministry for Emergencies.
In London, confirmed the presence of swine influenza in 15 Ukrainians
Bilovol also reported that the epidemic threshold has been achieved in Donetsk, Kiev, Chernihiv, Zhytomyr region, as well as in the capital.
"Practically achieved epidporog in Kirovograd and Odessa regions. Intensified quarantine measures in Kiev, Kirovograd, Dnepropetrovsk regions and the city of Cherkassy," - said the chief sanvrach.
Earlier, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said that the flu epidemic in Ukraine will end in 3-4 weeks.
"We'll now have a rough orientation in time. I think we now have reached more or less comprehensible stability, and now we will come three weeks, when the downturn will be gradual (epidemic), and we will see bring the situation to normal" - she said.
These next three articles come from the Kyiv Post. “Ukraine's leading English-language newspaper since 1995”
Health ministry estimates Ukraine needs 12.5 million doses of vaccine against A (H1N1)
Today at 15:47 | Ukrainian NewsThe health ministry estimates that Ukraine requires 12.5 million doses of vaccine against the influenza A (H1N1) according toChief Sanitary Doctor Oleksandr Bilovol.
«We have performed all the algorithms and priorities. Today, at least 12.5 million doses are needed to vaccinate our population,» he said.
According to him, people in the risk group (medical workers, pregnant women, and law enforcement workers) are the ones most in need of vaccination.
Bilovol said that two vaccines against pandemic influenza manufactured in Russia and Canada have been submitted to the health ministry for registration.
Bilovol added that a French-made vaccine is expected to be submitted for registration soon.
Ukrainian community in U. S. to provide Ukraine with aid to fight flu
Today at 15:11 | Ukrainian News
Ukrainian community in the United States has decided to provide Ukraine with humanitarian aid to fight flu epidemic, according to the press service ofAeroSvit air company as it is going todeliver this cargo.
The aid consists of 1 millionprotective surgical masks and 12, 500 sterilizing liquid for hands. The whole of the cargo weighs 7.5 tons.
Ukraine will get the aid on Nov. 7.
Pandemic politics
Yesterday at 22:11 | Staff reportsThe Halloween health scare continues to haunt the nation well into November as people are dying from flu and other respiratory diseases, as politicians play the blame game.
If the nation’s top officials had done a better job preparing for this year’s flu epidemic, Andriy Stakhiv might still be alive today. Instead, the 31-year old Lviv native – described as “young, healthy and strong” – died of flu-related complications, only two weeks after complaining of a temperature, aches and pains.
Friends and family wonder if medical negligence also contributed to his death. “He called a doctor, who came the next day, prescribed some pills and left,” his friend, Oleksandr Parshkov, said. Four days later, suffering from a fever and shortness of breath, Stakhiv was taken to a hospital emergency room in Lviv.
“Prepare for the worst. His lungs are almost gone. We do not know how to treat him,” doctors at the hospital told Stakhiv’s family, according to Parshkov. He died on Oct. 30, the same day that the government took dramatic steps to stop the spread of the flu. That day, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko ordered the nation’s schools and universities closed and banned large public gatherings for at least three weeks.
Initially, the government’s justification for taking such drastic steps was hotly criticized. But the debate has subsided as the death toll keeps rising. Still, the nation is seen as having missed prevention opportunities since at least this spring, when the swine flu struck Mexico. Many, including President Victor Yushchenko, believe Tymoshenko’s government could have curbed the epidemic sooner by vaccinating and educating people. Meanwhile, speculation remains about whether the fast-moving virus will mutate to a more deadly form
