Tough on Swine Flu: The Ukrainian government’s response to H1N1 is excessive

Published On Monday, November 02, 2009 10:14 PM

By THE CRIMSON STAFF

The Ukrainian government’s policies on swine flu make quarantines and Purell dispensers look like amateur efforts. Due to rising fears about a possible swine flu epidemic, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuliya V. Tymoshenko announced a nationwide ban on public gatherings, the closing of all schools for three weeks, and various travel restrictions. The strict measures come at a critical time in the Ukrainian presidential campaign, with Tymoshenko closely trailed by opposition leader Victor Yanukovich in the polls. Although we realize that the spread of H1N1 is a serious health issue, these measures seem extreme and dubious given the election climate. Ukraine’s swine flu policy needs to be better justified or called off.

We realize that H1N1 is a serious health problem for many countries. H1N1 is a new virus whose timing, duration, and severity are still uncertain. Moreover, the treatment of this disease is difficult, especially in countries like Ukraine whose medical infrastructure does not equal that of other Western countries. The severity of the disease in Ukraine, however, does not seem to merit the drastic steps the government has taken. Although national health officials have cited 33 flu deaths in support of the measure, they have not definitively specified how many of these deaths were a result of swine flu and how many were a result of other viruses. Additionally, to put this count in perspective, the Centers for Disease Control reported 292 swine flu deaths in the U.S. from just August 30 to October 10, 2009. Ukraine’s anti-swine flu measures are also markedly more extreme than those of neighboring Russia and Poland.

Furthermore, the H1N1 virus should not become politicized. The government should prioritize health in its response, not politics. In Ukraine, combating swine flu seems to have turned into a contest among politicians to see who can be most aggressive when addressing public-health issues. However, the most extreme political response is not always the best one, and the ability to calibrate a measured response is as valuable as the ability to execute a far-reaching one. Public health is not a political game, and Ukraine’s leaders must realize that the cost of an overblown response is more material than a few points at the polls.

Regardless of the intentions behind these measures, though, we have further concerns that these steps may become undemocratic, especially given the ban on public gatherings during an election season. In losing the ability to gather in large groups, supporters of Yanukovich have lost their best avenue to advocate for their candidate. The free and easy public discourse that is vital to a democratic election in this instance seems clearly impaired. Ukraine’s troubling recent history with elections makes it especially vital that this campaign proceed as fairly and smoothly as possible. Otherwise, the same election uncertainties that engendered the “Orange Revolution” four years ago may this time around cause a “Swine Flu Revolution.”

I've been watchin' all the Ukrain flu stuff on another forum I use and it looks spooky as hell. If its true whats coming out of Ukrain.......it has Mexico 2009 written all over it. Kathy have you looked into it?

Moscow shop assistants, pharmacy staff compelled to wear flu masks
http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.htm ... &PageNum=0
03.11.2009,

MOSCOW, November 3 (Itar-Tass) -- The staff of Moscow shops and pharmacies are compelled to wear flu masks by a resolution of city chief public health official Nikolai Filatov, a source at the city department of the Federal Consumer Rights and Human Well Being Service told Itar-Tass on Tuesday.

Besides, no visitors are permitted in hospitals, boarding schools and orphanages. Polyclinic doctors are recommended to visit their patients at home. There will be daily medical checkups of schoolchildren, college students and teachers in order to prevent the spread of cold and flu. Public events will be limited.

The cold and flu rate in Moscow twice exceeds the epidemic level, the city department of the Federal Consumer Rights and Human Well Being Service said on Tuesday.

A total of 166,000 Muscovites, 105,700 of them children, contracted the infection over the past week. The sickness rate grew 57.2% as compared to the previous week or 2.6 times exceeded last year’s indicator. A total of 2,308 patients, among them 1,276 children, were hospitalized. Regular and A/H1N1 flu makes up 3.4% of all cases.

City residents are being inoculated against regular flu. As of November 2, the inoculation had been given to almost 1.7 million, including 848,100 children.

Influenza in Poland - these are the most affected region
03/Nov/09

More than 10.6 thousand. cases and suspected cases of influenza have been reported in Poland in the last week of October. In the same period last year there were more than 4.3 thousand. - Clear the data from the National Institute of Public Health National Institute of Hygiene.
From 23 to 31 October 2009 there were 10 thousand. 613 cases and suspected cases. Called. Daily mean incidence during this period was 3.09 per 100 thousand. people. From 16 to 22 October and suspected cases were more than 7 thousand. 727, and the average maturity was 2.89.

For comparison - in the last week of October 2008 there were 4 thousand. 305 cases and suspicion, and the incidence was 1.25.

Tomasz Misztal, he said the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate, the increase in incidence is due mainly to the fact that in this year's flu season started earlier than in the past. - This is influenced by the weather. We expected such a situation, we are not surprised - he added.

Most cases in the last week of October occurred in the Mazowiecka (2465) and Lodz (2115), at least in the province.: Świętokrzyskie (18) and Lublin (39). The increase in cases reported in Małopolskie, Lodz, Mazowieckie, Podkarpackie, Podlaskie, Pomorskie, Opole, Świętokrzyskie, Warmia and Mazury.

According to GIS data on the Polish territory has so far confirmed 185 cases of A/H1N1 virus infection. The vast majority of them were mild.

On Tuesday in Warsaw, the committee deliberates on pandemic influenza.

According to recent data, in Ukraine 255 thousand registered. sick with influenza or acute respiratory infections, of which 15 thousand. hospitalized. Because of the acute respiratory infections or influenza have died about 71 people. Most affected by the epidemic are circuits Western Ukraine.

http://wiadomosci.onet.pl/2071554,11,gr ... ,item.html

Ministry of Health confirmed 80 deaths from pneumonia
proUA / 03.11.2009 19:37
Ministry of Health has confirmed 80 deaths from pneumonia.

This is in the First National Channel deputy chief sanitary doctor Lyudmila Muharska, broadcast "Ukrainian News".

"With the recent deaths from pneumonia, not influenza and ARI, and 80 people from pneumonia" - she said.

According to her today on available data for the entire period of increasing incidence of registered about 390 cases of influenza and ARI, the hospital is about 15 thousand people.

Remember, the Ministry of Health as of 22:00 on November 2 confirms 71 cases of death from influenza and ARI in Lviv, Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi, Volyn, Brussels, Transcarpathian, Vinnitsa and Rivne.

As of 17:00 on November 1 was confirmed 60 deaths from flu and acute respiratory viral diseases, starting from 19 October, Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi, Lviv and Volyn regions.

Ministry of Health announced the epidemic of influenza A (H1N1) in Ukraine.
http://kyiv.proua.com/country/2009/11/03/193733.html

Ukraine - MES will protect nuclear power plants from viruses
http://www.isria.com/pages/3_November_2009_177.php

Ministry of Emergency Situations units are on heightened alert due to the flu epidemic in Ukraine.

"Heightened alert is aimed at ensuring daily security. Our main task is to ensure that facilities such as nuclear power plants and chemical plants that are of strategic importance to Ukraine but potentially dangerous are operating," Minister of Emergency Situations Volodymyr Shandra said.

According to him, it's very important for nuclear power plant workers to be protected from the virus. "We held several meetings with Energoatom regarding the need to ensure that the personnel responsible for nuclear safety are protected and not sick. We have developed rapid-reaction measures should flu and illness spread among power plant workers," he added.

He clarified that personnel at potentially dangerous facilities will be provided with the necessary preventive medicine and supplies, regardless of their ranking.

"For example, there are only a handful of people that can control air traffic. You can't train someone new quickly. If the virus were to spread among the staff, this would immediately affect their work," Shandra explained.

He stressed that the emergency-response situation is under control. "We're also paying special attention to our fire brigades to ensure that they are operational. This also applies to chemical plants, energy facilities, etc." he stressed.

CA:

Supervisors Declare H1N1 Emergency
Hospitalizations On Rise

POSTED: 10:28 am PST November 3, 2009
UPDATED: 10:30 am PST November 3, 2009

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Sacramento County supervisors on Tuesday declared a state of emergency over the rising number of hospitalizations related to the H1N1 flu bug.

The move came at the request of Dr. Glennah Trochet, the county's health
http://www.kcra.com/health/21509426/detail.html

DAILY FATALITY SUMMARY (Reports posted on November 2,2009)

UNITED STATES 42
Alabama 7
Arizona 1
California 16
Idaho 1
Indiana 1
Kansas 2
Louisiana 3
Nebraska 1
New Mexico 1
New York 3
Rhode Island 1
Texas 2
Virginia 1
Washington 1
Wyoming 1

CANADA 4
Ontario 2
Quebec 1
Yukon Territory 1

WORLDWIDE
Austria 1*
China 1
China(Hong Kong) 1Italy 1
Sweden 1
Turkey 5
Ukraine 10
United Kingdom 1

NOTES:The US has 1524 fatalities which includes 204 children.
Canada`s Yukon Territory had it`s first fatality.
Austria`s death is that country`s first.

"2 Pa. Children Receive Tamiflu Overdoses"
http://www.wpxi.com/news/21496503/detail.html

.."The overdoses were the result of unawareness among staff as to the concentration of the drug given in an alternative liquid form, state health officials said.

Both children were unharmed as a result of the errors, but details of the near misses have been published in a supplementary Pennsylvania Patient Safety Advisory to raise awareness of the issue.

For patients who have trouble swallowing Tamiflu capsules, usually elderly and children, a liquid form of the drug is available. For facilities that have a shortage of Tamiflu in liquid form, the Food and Drug Administration approved directions listed in the product labeling for using the powder in the Tamiflu capsule to make a liquid form, which is a different concentration...

.."As of Oct. 20, the PPSA received two reports describing the dosage errors related to the varying Tamiflu concentrations.

In each case, physicians prescribed 12 mg of the product to the patient in liquid form.

However, due to shortages of the liquid form, which is available in a 12 mg/mL concentration, pharmacists compounded and dispensed a liquid form made from the powder of available capsules as a 15 mg/mL concentration, which was administered without adjusting the dose.

"We believe hospital staff -- prescribers, nurses, and pharmacists -- may be unaware of the potential for dosage errors due to the shortage of the drug in liquid form," Mike Doering, executive director of the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority said. "Doctors who are prescribing the Tamiflu in a liquid are unaware that the manufacturer produced liquid form of the product is not available."...

New Advice on Swine Flu for Pregnant Women

By DONALD G. McNEIL Jr.
Published: November 2, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/03/health/03flu.html

One dose of swine flu vaccine protects pregnant women against the flu, but children under 10 still need two doses, federal officials said Monday, announcing further results of clinical trials of the vaccine.

The officials also announced the formation of a panel of experts from outside the government to watch for any rare or unexpected side effects as millions of Americans get vaccinated.

As of Monday, 30 million doses of vaccine were available; that is in line with what federal officials predicted two weeks ago, although in late summer they predicted 40 million and in midsummer one federal official optimistically predicted 120 million by this time.

The vaccine was rushed out to the public before all clinical trials could be finished because the virus had a second wave starting in late August. But the trial results, though limited, could further reassure the many pregnant women who have already been vaccinated or who have been nervous about getting the shots.

The 50 healthy pregnant women in the trial did not experience any unusual rates of side effects and one 15-microgram dose gave a protective level of antibodies, said Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which is overseeing the trials.

Children from 6 months to 9 years old should still get two doses, about a month apart, Dr. Fauci said. But the first dose usually provides partial protection, meaning a child might still catch the flu but would be more likely to have a mild case.

The World Health Organization last week recommended one dose of vaccine for all children, but the United States is ignoring that advice. The organization’s primary goal is to make sure that the world’s vaccine supplies stretch as far as possible among the world’s children. It endorses vaccine-stretching adjuvants and favors one dose per child so more children can get one.

Federal health officials, by contrast, are trying to make sure that American children are fully protected first. They have also decided not to use adjuvants, even though they think they are safe, because anti-vaccine lobbyists have campaigned against them, calling them dangerous, and officials feared that some Americans would be scared away from being vaccinated.

Fourteen countries are now using swine flu vaccines and all appear to be safe, said Marie-Paule Kieny, director of vaccine research for the W.H.O. Most European countries and Canada use vaccines with adjuvants, which are usually mixtures of water and oil that, for unknown reasons, increase the immune response and make smaller doses of vaccine work better.

The W.H.O.’s expert panel also concluded that live nasal-spray vaccines are safe for pregnant women, while federal health officials have taken a more conservative position, suggesting that pregnant women stick to the shots, which contain a killed virus.

A new advisory group that will monitor the national vaccination drive for any unexpected side effects met Monday for the first time, said Dr. Bruce Gellin, director of the National Vaccine Program Office.

“They are becoming familiar with the data streams that are available,” and getting briefings about the clinical trials, Dr. Gellin said.

There has long been a database on which doctors are encouraged to report any bad reactions to vaccine among their patients, but there will also be reports from health insurers, local health departments, school districts and the like, as well as news reports.

Eventually, Dr. Gellin said, the panel will meet every two weeks and report monthly, but members can meet by teleconference on short notice if necessary.

Ukraine

Chief doctor: In Ukraine there is no epidemic of swine flu
03/Nov/09

In Ukraine there is no epidemic of swine flu.

Told the chief medical officer Alexander Bilovol broadcast television channel ICTV.

According to him, "is an epidemic of influenza and acute respiratory disease observed in the western regions." "Especially in the 11 regions, where almost 15% exceeded the threshold," - said the chief medical officer.

"In other regions, there is the previous level indicators, which were in 2007-2008," - said Bilovol.

He noted that as a result of the epidemic, according to latest figures, 71 people died.

Chief sanitary doctor said that there were 14 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza A/H1N1.

"The three people who died, identified influenza A/H1N1", - added Bilovol.

He also said that "100% verification of this diagnosis in Ukraine give two laboratories that are equipped with modern equipment - is a central sanitary and epidemiological stations and Institute Gromashevsky."

http://www.unian.net/rus/news/news-344685.html

Ukraine

More than 100 thousand inhabitants of Lviv region are ill with flu and colds
03/Nov/09

In the Lviv region growing number of cases Lviv Regional State Administration said that the region recorded 104 thousand cases of influenza and ARI, of whom 2 875 were hospitalized.

It is reported that as of the morning of 3 November, the number of patients with influenza and ARI in the Lviv region was 104 019 people (children under 14 years - 49313, adult - 54706).

The number of hospitalized reached 2 875 people (children under 14 years - 1197, adults - 1678).

As reported in the Lviv Regional State Administration, died of pneumonia 37 people (children under 14 years - 2 adults - 35).

***

Recall Friday, 30 October, Health Minister Vasyl Knyazevich announced the beginning of a flu epidemic in Ukraine. The government immediately announced a quarantine in the nine western areas. In addition, all educational institutions in the country declared a three-week vacation.

According to recent data, the epidemic died 71 people. In addition, the authorities reported 255 thousand sick. Chief sanitary doctor Alexander Bilovol noted that recorded 14 laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza A/H1N1.

Ukraine's leaders acknowledged that their forces to stop the spread of the epidemic can not, therefore, appealed for help to a number of countries, as well as to NATO and the EU. Poland and Slovakia have already provided first aid.

http://korrespondent.net/tech/health/1014206

Russia

Regulator says Russia's H1N1 death toll rises to 10
03/Nov/09

MOSCOW, Nov 3 (PRIME-TASS) -- The number of deaths in Russia from the A/H1N1 influenza virus, also known as swine flu, has risen to 10, ITAR-TASS reported Tuesday citing the Web site for Russia’s Federal Service for Oversight of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare.

Of the total, eight of the deaths were registered in the Zabaikalsky Region, one in Moscow, and one in the Krasnoyarsk Region.

Russia’s Healthcare and Social Development Ministry plans to start vaccinating people from high-risk groups against the flu starting November 9, according to earlier reports.

As of October 29, around 2,000 people had been diagnosed with swine flu in Russia, the ministry said earlier.

http://www.prime-tass.com/news/show.asp ... &id=467241

Ukraine

Tymoshenko: from influenza and its complications, 71 people died
03/Nov/09

In Ukraine, as a result of influenza and its complications, 71 people died.

According to an UNIAN correspondent. reported by the Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko today, speaking in the Verkhovna Rada.

"As of November 2 influenza ill 19,189 thousand people, and SARS - Total 236.327 thousand (influenza and SARS) - 255.516 thousand. To date, 71 people died," - said Tymoshenko.

At the same time, the Head of Government noted that, according to statistics, over 9 months of 2009, only influenza sick 163.091 thousand against 462.198 thousand for 9 months of 2007.

"During the first 9 months of 2007, died from influenza and its complications is 4,720 people. During the first 9 months of 2009 died from influenza and its complications is 3,822 people. This statistic, which is recorded by Goskomstat," - she said.

According to Tymoshenko, the state of epidemic and quarantine in 9 regions of Ukraine was introduced because it exceeds the epidemic threshold of morbidity.

http://www.unian.net/rus/news/news-344722.html

Tough on Swine Flu
The Ukrainian government’s response to H1N1 is excessive
http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=529887

Published On Monday, November 02, 2009 10:14 PM
By THE CRIMSON STAFF

The Ukrainian government’s policies on swine flu make quarantines and Purell dispensers look like amateur efforts. Due to rising fears about a possible swine flu epidemic, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuliya V. Tymoshenko announced a nationwide ban on public gatherings, the closing of all schools for three weeks, and various travel restrictions. The strict measures come at a critical time in the Ukrainian presidential campaign, with Tymoshenko closely trailed by opposition leader Victor Yanukovich in the polls. Although we realize that the spread of H1N1 is a serious health issue, these measures seem extreme and dubious given the election climate. Ukraine’s swine flu policy needs to be better justified or called off.

We realize that H1N1 is a serious health problem for many countries. H1N1 is a new virus whose timing, duration, and severity are still uncertain. Moreover, the treatment of this disease is difficult, especially in countries like Ukraine whose medical infrastructure does not equal that of other Western countries. The severity of the disease in Ukraine, however, does not seem to merit the drastic steps the government has taken. Although national health officials have cited 33 flu deaths in support of the measure, they have not definitively specified how many of these deaths were a result of swine flu and how many were a result of other viruses. Additionally, to put this count in perspective, the Centers for Disease Control reported 292 swine flu deaths in the U.S. from just August 30 to October 10, 2009. Ukraine’s anti-swine flu measures are also markedly more extreme than those of neighboring Russia and Poland.

Furthermore, the H1N1 virus should not become politicized. The government should prioritize health in its response, not politics. In Ukraine, combating swine flu seems to have turned into a contest among politicians to see who can be most aggressive when addressing public-health issues. However, the most extreme political response is not always the best one, and the ability to calibrate a measured response is as valuable as the ability to execute a far-reaching one. Public health is not a political game, and Ukraine’s leaders must realize that the cost of an overblown response is more material than a few points at the polls.

Regardless of the intentions behind these measures, though, we have further concerns that these steps may become undemocratic, especially given the ban on public gatherings during an election season. In losing the ability to gather in large groups, supporters of Yanukovich have lost their best avenue to advocate for their candidate. The free and easy public discourse that is vital to a democratic election in this instance seems clearly impaired. Ukraine’s troubling recent history with elections makes it especially vital that this campaign proceed as fairly and smoothly as possible. Otherwise, the same election uncertainties that engendered the “Orange Revolution” four years ago may this time around cause a “Swine Flu Revolution.”

This site is intended for health professionals only
-
UK England "Pulse"

-
GPs in 'hotspot' areas are again under massive pressure from the pandemic - Swine flu 'hotspots' return amid mounting workload fears

03 Nov 09
By Lilian Anekwe

GP leaders’ worst-case scenario for swine flu appears to be coming to pass, with latest figures from the Department of Health showing a re-emergence of swine flu hotspots.

The GPC recently warned decisions on buddying up and suspending routine work would be hugely more difficult if the pandemic spread unevenly.

But figures released by the Department of Health show that is exactly what is happening. Weekly consultations in England rose only slightly from 39.1 to 42.8 consultations per 100,000 population, but in some areas rates were three times that.

GP consultation rates for influenza-like illness rose above 100 per 1,000 patients in Trafford, Telford and Wrekin and Gateshead, and were more than double the national average in Sunderland, west Yorkshire and Manchester. In Northern Ireland, consultations leapt to 241 per 100,000 population, according to the latest RCGP report.

During the summer swine flu wave, weekly consultation rates in Sheffield, Birmingham, Glasgow and east London rose to over 500 per 100,000 population, yet the Department of Health refused to sanction scaling back routine work – insisting on a national decision.


Dr Dean Marshall, GPC negotiator on swine flu, recently told Pulse the GPC would struggle to negotiate terms of any suspension of routine work unless the pandemic spread in a uniform manner.

‘If we get hotspots, that's going to be very difficult. When individual practices are completely overrun, how do you do that with a national contract?’ he said.

GPs in hotspots told of their workload. Dr Lawrence Addlestone, a GP in Manchester, said his practice had received ‘huge numbers’ of swine flu cases.

‘We’re exhausted. The impact on practice has been very high – morale is quite low.’

http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/story.asp?s ... 7&c=1#Link is

Swine Flu Causes Brawl On NYC Subway

Lawrence Delevingne|Nov. 2, 2009, 8:53 AM

If you think tensions over swine flu are exaggerated, think again.

We saw a violent altercation between two women this morning on the New York City Subway because of H1N1.

The D train was traveling south from Rockefeller Center (50th Street) to Bryant Park (42nd Street) shortly after 8:00 am. One woman, perhaps 5'7", slightly overweight and with dyed reddish blond hair, was coughing without covering her mouth. Maybe it was swine flu, maybe not.

Another woman, roughly 5'2", stocky, with her blond hair in a slicked-back bun, was nearby, clearly displeased. She made a curt comment to the first woman, something to the effect of "you need to cover your mouth -- I don't want swine flu."

The second woman continued to yell at the cougher, berating her until she reacted, beginning to curse back. It escalated, and the accosting woman yelled "get the conductor!"

No one got the conductor -- it just seemed like a shouting match -- but as the train pulled into 42nd Street, the coughing woman spit on the other, provoking what sounded like a punch from the reaction of the crowd (we didn't directly see it). Then the cougher attempted to exit the train as the doors were open, but the second woman grabbed her by the back of the hair, violently yanking her down to the floor.

The last action happened directly in front of us. The cougher got up, yelling and cursing, but was escorted out of the train by what appeared to be a friend. Your correspondent, who had been sleepily reading about CIT's bankruptcy filing, held the shorter woman back, who kept screaming as the second woman left the train.

Mercifully, the train doors closed, seperating the two women, and continued to 34th Street.

Most passengers shook their heads at the absurdity of the situation.

But more than a few sympathized with the woman who was coughed on. "She wasn't even covering her mouth," said one woman. "That sh-t was going all over the train."

Added a male witness: "I could have decked her too. That swine flu is treacherous."

http://www.businessinsider.com/fight-on ... lu-2009-11

Panic in Ukraine over swine flu
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8338835.stm
3 November 2009

Officials in Ukraine have closed schools for three weeks, imposed travel restrictions and are limiting public events as the country battles to stop the spread of swine flu.

More than 60 people are believed to have died of respiratory problems in the past week, and the measures are among the toughest to be implemented in Europe to tackle the virus.

It's still not clear whether all the deaths were caused by swine flu, but the news has sparked panic, and people have started wearing masks across the country.

Appeal for calm

The Ukrainian health minister Vasyl Knyazevych has asked the media only to report the comments of medical experts following a series of misleading reports which fuelled public anxiety.

On national television, he said Ukraine had the same problems as the rest of the world.

He also called on fellow politicians to give people 'a week of silence,' and said there was no need for panic.

However, his calls may already be too late.

255,000 cases of flu and acute respiratory problems have been registered among the 46m population. 15,000 have been hospitalised.

The World Health Organisation says there is no evidence to suggest that Ukraine had a bad outbreak of swine flu, but it has agreed to send a team there to help the country cope.

President Viktor Yushchenko has also appealed for international help.

Government response

The government has faced growing criticism of its handling of the outbreak.

Some opposition politicians have been particularly critical of the health minister who they not only want to be sacked, but jailed.

Opposition politicians from the Party of the Regions say the first reported cases were at the beginning of October, but by middle of the month there had already been confirmed deaths.

They say the authorities should have provided accurate information about the outbreak so that Ukrainians could seek appropriate medical help.

Instead, the opposition says, many people have resorted to self-treatment.

Experts say Ukraine was unprepared for the swine flu outbreak, and the hunt for political scapegoats is likely to continue.

The opposition leader, Viktor Yanukovych, has called on parliament to scrutinise the government's actions.

Investigation calls

The influential National Security and Defence Council has called on the judiciary to investigate why Ukraine was unable to prevent the outbreak.

President Viktor Yushchenko has even asked the country's security service to look at whether pharmacies are guilty of price-fixing anti-flu medications.

Critics have also rounded on Ukrainian television channels which they say have wall-to-wall coverage of Ukraine's leading politicians, but not leading medical specialists.

This, they say, is exacerbating public concern rather than allaying popular fears.

Some analysts say swine flu is being used by the President and his arch rival the Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko to score political points ahead of presidential elections in January.

Supporters of Prime Minister Tymoshenko, who remains at bitter loggerheads with the President, say he is trying to blame her government for the situation.

Playing politics

Aware of the electoral sensitivities, she assured the Ukrainian public that she stood with them, and took "every responsibility for the government's handling of swine flu on herself."

"The world has given us not one, but two great trials - first, the financial crisis and now this horrible flu."

Ukraine's leading political analysts say the handling of swine flu has become one of the key electoral issues.

According to them, rival candidates are seeking to take the initiative in battling the spread of the virus.

"The swine flu outbreak has overshadowed all the other negative campaigning we were seeing, especially around Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko," says Vitaly Kulyk, a political scientist at Kiev's Centre for Civil Society.

"The main players are using the flu in their propaganda war," he adds.

Appeals for help

Opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych, whose party is backed by Ukraine's most powerful oligarch, has called on Ukrainians to donate to a special fund which was set up by his party.

He said he wanted to hold a TV marathon to raise funds to fight the epidemic.

The first aircraft to arrive in Ukraine from Switzerland carrying emergency medical supplies, was met by the country's leadership.

They demonstrated how to put face masks on in front of cameras.

Many Ukrainians however, are asking why their government did not act sooner.

It was evident in May or June that swine flu was spreading around the world, they say, yet Ukraine failed to stockpile sufficient supplies of medication.

Only now, when Ukraine faces an epidemic of swine flu, has the government started to act.

The U.S. Department of Defense recently raised their pandemic phase levels from zero(0) to one(1) for Northern Command and Pacific Command. All other regional commands are still at phase level zero.

Interesting to see the differences between the DOD's phase levels and the WHO's definitions. Follow link below.

http://fhp.osd.mil/aiWatchboard/DoDPhases.jsp

Inter-Pandemic Period
0. Prepare DOD for continued operations in the event of a PI.

Pandemic Alert Period
1. DOD supports USG efforts to prevent or inhibit the geographic spread of the virus.
2. Support USG efforts to contain the spread of the virus.
3. Support USG efforts to delay or halt the virus geographically.

Ukraine

In Kharkov isolated 18 Chinese officers
03/Nov/09

Chinese officers who are trained in Kharkov University of Air Forces of Ivan Kozhedub (HUVS), in connection with the threat of influenza from audiences sent to the dormitory of the military university in Kharkov, where they will continue their education through the Internet.

According to an UNIAN correspondent in the regional media center of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, there was a regrettable misunderstanding, and the words of today's information media center that "to resolve commands HUVS classes with Chinese military officers since November 4 will be continued at their place of residence" should be understand "in the dormitories HUVS in Kharkov, where" military university teachers will communicate with them through the Internet. "

In the Media Center said that the threat of the flu "the most difficult in Kharkov University of Air Forces of Ivan Kozhedub was to resolve the issue with training 18 senior officers of the People's Republic of Korea. The fact that their training has begun in October 2009 and should last another two months. The PRC government has paid Ukraine means for receiving Chinese specialty specialist automated control systems for missile forces. Therefore, the decision of the University of command classes of foreigners November 4 will be continued at their place of residence, and military instructors will communicate with them through the Internet. "

http://www.unian.net/rus/news/news-344776.html

LA

6 new deaths bring Louisiana swine flu toll to 30

Posted: Tuesday, 03 November 2009 7:20AM
Associated Press Reporting

The state Department of Health and Hospitals says Louisiana's swine flu death toll is now at 30, with six deaths related to the virus in the past week.

Four - two boys and two women - were in the seven-parish Lafayette area.

The other two are a boy from the five-parish Lake Charles area and a woman from the five-parish area on the North Shore.

The department says more vaccine is coming every week, and people should keep in touch with their doctors so they'll know when to make an appointment.

Officials say the state has ordered 332,700 doses, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta had sent about 253,800 doses by last Wednesday.

They say 544 providers in Louisiana have administered 31,094 doses.


http://www.wwl.com/6-new-deaths-bring-L ... 30/5586490

Montreal Children's closes clinics, deploys staff to ER
http://montreal.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local ... ntrealHome
Nov. 03 2009

The Montreal Children's Hospital has temporarily closed some non-urgent out-patient clinics and its Pediatric Test Centre so that staff can deal with a crush of patients in the emergency room.

The crush of parents bringing in their children with flu-like symptoms has increased the demand for emergency services.

"If a child's doctor's appointment has been cancelled, parents will receive a phone call to reschedule the appointment," the hospital said in a statement on Tuesday.

"If parents do not receive a phone call they can presume their appointment will take place as scheduled."

Parents are asked not to call the hospital to confirm their appointment since there are not enough staff to take the calls.

Parents whose doctors have ordered blood tests are asked to have them done at their local CLSC instead of the hospital.

Grad student & McMinnville man latest Ore. swine flu victims
http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/k ... 2e668.html
November 3, 2009

PORTLAND -- A graduate student at Lewis & Clark College has died from swine flu complications, school officials said.

The interim president confirmed the news to students and faculty in a letter that said Kris Kerstiens was hospitalized early last week and later died.

"Kris Kerstiens, an off-campus resident, was admitted to a local hospital early last week with flu-like symptoms. The illness advanced to the point that he developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which led to his death this weekend," Interim President Jane Monnig Atkinson explained in the letter.

Kerstiens was a student in the Master of Arts in Teaching program in our Graduate School of Education and Counseling.

Friends created a memorial page on Facebook for Kerstiens.

In McMinnville, a memorial service was scheduled for late Tuesday, for a man who also died from complications related to swine flu last week.

Health officials said that David Hill, 44, was the first person in Yamhill County to die from the virus. He was diabetic and was recovering from a heart attack.

Swine flu has killed 27 people in Oregon since the outbreak began last spring, according to state health officials. In Washington state, there have been 15 swine flu deaths to date.

Meanwhile, more doses of the swine flu vaccine are here, ready for distribution.

Starting Tuesday, Clackamas County will give out the vaccine at its Oregon City health clinic. The clinic will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Thursday.

The Clark County Public Health Department planned to have special evening hours in Vancouver starting on Wednesday, to distribute the shots. Priority groups can get the vaccine between 5 and 8 p.m. through Friday.