# 4061
After 3 weeks of wild, reckless and unfounded rumors regarding the flu outbreak in Ukraine that have conjured up the disturbing specters of bioterrorism and pneumonic plague (see Ukraine and the Internet Rumor Mill), it appears that some level of normalcy is beginning to return to that flu battered nation.
Schools are starting to reopen this week, most of the wild speculation appears to be on the wane, and public concerns are subsiding.
The flu is still there, of course.
But the numbers we’ve seen don’t support the wild assertions above, or that anything more ominous than a nasty outbreak of H1N1 (perhaps in concert with some other respiratory viruses) has been taking place in Ukraine.
Nearly 400 deaths in just under a month is tragic, but out of 1.5 million reported infections, about what you’d expect from an outbreak of influenza.
Two stories today from the Kyiv Post, outlining the number of cases, and the return to school.
Health Ministry confirms 374 deaths caused by influenza and acute respiratory viral infections
Today at 13:55 | Ukrainian NewsThe ministry of healthcare of Ukraine has confirmed 374 lethal cases caused by influenza and acute respiratory viral infections from October 29 to November 21, in 24 regions, the cities of Kyiv and Sevastopol, and in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, reads a report made by the ministry.
<SNIP>
For the last 24 hours eleven people have died.
In total, 1,599,103 people have contracted influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections since October 29; including 22,900 cases for the last 24 hours.
Since the beginning of the epidemic, 93,866 people taken to hospitals, of whom 66,091 already discharged.
As Ukrainian News earlier reported, the health ministry confirmed 362 people died of influenza and acute respiratory viral infections in 23 regions, the cities of Kyiv and Sevastopol, and in Crimea as of November 20.
Quarantine ends in educational institutions of Kyiv on Nov. 25
Yesterday at 08:01 | (Wire reports)All educational institutions and kindergartens will resume work on Wednesday, November 25.
The state anti-epidemic committee took the relevant decision at its sitting on Friday, the press service of the Kyiv City State Administration reported.
"The quarantine at all schools and higher educational institutions of Kyiv will end on November 25. The work of all kindergartens will be resumed," First Deputy Head of Kyiv City State Administration Irena Kylchytska said.
According to her, the committee has taken this decision because the infection rate of flu and acute respiratory disease has decreased among the population of the city.
The chief state sanitary doctor of Kyiv on November 19 sent Kyiv Mayor Leonid Chernovetsky a proposal to end the quarantine at educational institutions of the city on November 25.
