Epidemic Raises Death Toll to 95 in Ukraine

An outbreak of flu and respiratory infections in Ukraine has raised the death toll to 95 but health authorities added that the epidemic is weakening.

"We have 633,877 people suffering from flu and acute respiratory infections," and among these cases "95 people are dead", Deputy Health Minister Zinovy Mytnyk said.

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Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko on Friday ordered a three-week closure of Ukraine's schools and cinemas in the toughest measures adopted yet to combat the swine flu virus in Europe.

He did not add how many deaths were a result of swine flu.

The new figure was a jump of nine from the death toll announced by health officials Wednesday, which included five deaths confirmed as caused by the A(H1N1) virus.

The World Health Organisation has said it assumes the epidemic is swine flu. Mytnyk added Thursday that the first signs of the outbreak receding had been detected in the west of the country, where the epidemic started.

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Medics believe "the peak of the epidemic has already been reached" in several western regions, the official said.

The outbreak which caused panic and a run on pharmacies prompted Ukrainian authorities to launch tough measures, including school closures and an appeal for help to world powers.

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Analysts have suggested that rival Ukrainian leaders may be trying to exploit popular fears in campaigning ahead of January 17 presidential polls, as each candidate seeks to take the initiative in fighting the outbreak.

Source-AFP
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