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Number of Influenza, ARI and Hospitalized
Cases In The Ukraine Exceed 1 Million
The number of influenza, acute respiratory (ARI) and hospitalized
cases in the Ukraine has been updated to 1,018,219 people infected.
There are 14 regions which have now exceeded the epidemic threshold
and 155 people have been reported dead.
The number of reports over the weekend have declined in frequency
compared to numbers being reported last week, but it is unclear
if this reduction in the rate of infections is due to an improving
situation, fewer reports or simply further manipulation by the Ukraine
government and World Health Organization (WHO) to conceal more deaths.
Lviv still has the largest numbers of cases with 155,895. The
Kiev region is now up to 60,366 and when combined with the 47,802
cases in the Kiev Oblast, the Kiev city/oblast has increased to
more than 100,000 cases, which is higher than any oblast, other
than Lviv. The low number of deaths in this region (5) are not
consistent with the amount of infections being reported.
The
lack of a more detailed report on the gene sequences generated
by Mill Hill in London continues to cause concern. Initial reports
suggested there was no reassortment or anti-viral resistance markers
identified, but reports did not exclude small changes to the virus
that may have occurred. The WHO had not released any new information
over the weekend.
The recent explosion of hemorrhagic pneumonia in the Ukraine
has been an issue of great concern to health officials. The rapid
increase in reported infections has raised speculation that the
virus is transmitting more efficiently, replicating at higher
levels in lung tissue, and possibly communicable while completely
asymptomatic.
Meanwhile the borders that link Slovakia to Ukraine will be closing
down to stop the spread of the Ukrainian epidemic. All border
posts linking the two countries will be closed except one where
Doctors and health officials will monitor people that pass and
will be able to ban them from entering the country if they see
fit.
All schools in Bulgaria will be in a flu break the whole week
(Nov 9-14). Their Health Ministry is recommending limiting the
number and scope of public events. The rapid spread of cases in
Bulgaria raise concerns that there will be dramatic increases
in deaths in the area. Spikes in deaths have already been reported
in Turkey and Italy, although none have approached the numbers
reported in Ukraine.
Reference
Sources:
fto.co.za
, recombinomics.com
November
9, 2009
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