Ukraine Swine Flu Epidemic

[Dave-n-Oksana 49]

KIEV, Ukraine – Urging its citizens not to panic, Ukraine on Monday closed the nation's schools for a week to avoid the spread of swine flu and suggested that nightclubs, cinemas and food markets in the west also shut down.

The World Health Organization said Monday there was no evidence that Ukraine had a bad outbreak of swine flu but at the government's request it had sent a health team there to help the country cope.

"But this is not an indication that the situation is severe," said WHO spokeswoman Liuba Negru. "The information we have gotten (from the government), we have to double-check it and make sure it is real, evidence-based information."

Ukraine's Health Ministry said Monday that 70 people in the nation of 40 million have died of flu, but did not say how many of those deaths were related to swine flu. Worldwide, outbreaks of regular seasonal flu claim 50,000 lives each year.

Nevertheless, all schools have been closed for a week across Ukraine, even in the capital, Kiev, where there have been no confirmed cases of swine flu.

In western Ukraine, local authorities advised people to travel only when necessary, a Health Ministry spokeswoman said.

All outdoor markets have been closed in the western region of Lviv, where the governor also urged cinemas, cafes, nightclubs and theaters to shut down until further notice.

Some observers, including the speaker of the parliament, Vladimir Litvin, suggested that these measures are the result of political wrangling ahead of the country's presidential election in January. The pivotal vote could overturn the 2004 Orange Revolution that swept a pro-Western government to power.

"We are seeing a political competition to see who will be the first to lead this process (of fighting swine flu)," Litvin said, according to the UNIAN news agency.

Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko met a Swiss shipment of anti-viral drugs at the Kiev airport on Monday.

"The government has declared the situation an epidemic, but there is absolutely no need to panic," she declared on national television.

Her main rival, President Viktor Yushchenko, said thousands of people were infected and called for assistance from NATO, the European Commission, the United States, Russia and other countries.

Konstantin Bondarenko, director of the Gorshenin Institute, a political consultancy, said that Tymoshenko has the most to lose from public sentiment over the outbreak, as state health officials answer to her.

"Right now all the candidates are weighing their political options, looking around for a theme, and this is a very hot topic right now. The panic is there, and they are acting on it," Bondarenko said.

After receiving the shipment of 300,000 doses of Tamiflu at Kiev's Borispol airport, Tymoshenko said her government plans to increase its hoard of the drug by another 300,000 to 950,000 doses.

"This is the supply that will reliably protect Ukraine," Tymoshenko said, ITAR-Tass news agency reported.

Viktor Yanukovych, the Regions' Party candidate for the presidency, has not commented on the swine flu uproar. Yanukovych, who was beaten in 2005 by Yushchenko, is leading in the polls with a platform that emphasizes closer ties with Russia.

During the past five years of Yushchenko's presidency, relations with Moscow reached historic lows. Yushchenko's approval ratings at home have fallen to single digits in the wake of the economic crisis, which hit Ukraine hard, and years of political gridlock with Tymoshenko.

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[eekee 182]

Not surprising.

[Mary and Jeff 0]

I just tell people the cure to swine flu is to be immunized with a daily dose of salo in the morning.

[Dave-n-Oksana 49]

I just tell people the cure to swine flu is to be immunized with a daily dose of salo in the morning.

That is a completely different swine affliction

I originally posted this because I was a bit surprised that any politician in this day and age could be so transparent as Tymoshenko, and I was wondering the thoughts of our fellow RUBs who have more experience with the Ukraine government than I.

Personally I think that no matter who wins the Presidential elections, it will be the Ukraine people who lose. Tymoshenko is too much of an opportunist and Yanukovych is ready to get in bed with Moscow.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I just tell people the cure to swine flu is to be immunized with a daily dose of salo in the morning.

That is a completely different swine affliction

I originally posted this because I was a bit surprised that any politician in this day and age could be so transparent as Tymoshenko, and I was wondering the thoughts of our fellow RUBs who have more experience with the Ukraine government than I.

Personally I think that no matter who wins the Presidential elections, it will be the Ukraine people who lose. Tymoshenko is too much of an opportunist and Yanukovych is ready to get in bed with Moscow.

Oh Dave...

One of the most interesting aspects (for me) of living in Ukraine was the politics. You haven't seen opportunists until you watch carefully a Ukraine election! I am sure this is 15% swine flu and 85% politics, and that is being generous!

I was in Ukraine for the Orange Revolution. I was watching a debate between Yanukovich (then the President) Yushenko (before he ate the poison food) and Yulia at an English tavern in Odessa. Yulia was going to fix everything, and give everything to everyone. Yushenko was asked how he thought Ukraine could pay for all the things she promised. His answer? "We should sell Yulia's ear rings!" I almost spit my drink all over the place! Their debates are SO much better than the snooze-fests we have! Of course then there was the whole poisoning episode and all sorts of paid protests until they had a new election. Anyway, the US knows nothing of dirty politics! Yanukovich's party, then in power had the election results routed through the party office where they were blantantly rigged. The woman doing the sign language at the bottom of the screen during the election results was in on it and was signing "Do not believe them, it is all lies, they are changing the election results" as they gave election results showing Yanukovich running away with the election. When the station signed off for the night, the woman signing said "I do not know if I will ever see you again...good luck Ukraine"

Now it looks like Yanukovich might get re-elected and I do not think that will be so wonderful. Yuila was vehemently anti-Russian until recently and now she is swinging back that way again. I expect the Hryvnia to drop like a stone after the elections...but they may not have a gas crisis this winter. LOL Gotta love Yulia's hairdo though.

Alla doesn't care for any of them, thinks the whole Orange revolution was just a stunt and did no one any good.

Edited November 3, 2009 by Gary and Alla

[Brad and Vika 129]

I just tell people the cure to swine flu is to be immunized with a daily dose of salo in the morning.

That is a completely different swine affliction

I originally posted this because I was a bit surprised that any politician in this day and age could be so transparent as Tymoshenko, and I was wondering the thoughts of our fellow RUBs who have more experience with the Ukraine government than I.

Personally I think that no matter who wins the Presidential elections, it will be the Ukraine people who lose. Tymoshenko is too much of an opportunist and Yanukovych is ready to get in bed with Moscow.

Conventional wisdom there is that regardless of the winner, no one has a large enough majority to create any real government, and the parties are way too far apart to get to a stable coalition either.

[Joe_&_Nadiya 1]

swine flu is the next piar of politics before the next president vote. It's a pity that people still trust them. Fall has come in Europe. It's flu season. Everybody gets usual flu this time. Reading mass media in Ukraine, everybody tells completely opposite amount of sickness people. Even they don't know how many people got swine flu or who died. How is it that Timoshenko and Health Ministry of Ukraine telling different numbers?!?!?!

Edited November 3, 2009 by Joe & Nadya