Poland urges EU to assist Ukraine in fighting swine flu pandemic

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has appealed to the European Commission to provide urgent assistance to Ukraine in the fight against the swine flu pandemic, a government spokesman said.

According to latest data, the outbreak of swine flu, which hit Ukraine last week, has claimed the lives of at least 70 people.

"The nature of this threat, in my opinion, demands urgent measures at the EU level, which will serve the interests of both Ukraine and the European Union," Tusk said in a letter addressed to President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso and Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, whose country currently holds the EU's rotating presidency.

Tusk earlier said in a phone conversation with Ukraine's Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko that his country and other EU members were ready to increase the supply of anti-flu medicine to Kiev.

While Poland appealed to the EU leadership, Slovakia, which is another EU country bordering Ukraine, closed two pedestrian border crossings with the H1N1 virus-hit country and ordered spot medical checks at others.

Ukraine's Deputy Health Minister Vasil Lozoryshynets said on Monday that at least 255,000 flu cases had been reported in the country, with 15,000 receiving treatment at a hospital and 170 being admitted to intensive care units.

The government has imposed quarantines in nine western provinces to curb the spread of swine flu, which originated in the Tirnopol Region.

All education establishments in the capital, Kiev, were closed on Monday until further notice due to the flu pandemic. Wearing medical masks has been a must in all catering places, shops and social services facilities across Ukraine since Friday.

President Viktor Yushchenko has requested help from other countries.

ForUm

Discuss news in the Forum

One-line news

14:05 Starting on November 18, Ukraine became member of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers' Bureau, Ukraine's CE mission reported.

19 November 2009

17:03 Eighty percent of Ukrainians want to have strong president, survey shows.

16:02 Ukrainian painter's canvas exhibited in Bulgarian parliament.

All news

News

20 November 2009

17:49 Ukraine seeking part in Russia's Glonass project

16:15 Signing of gas contract is a joint victory for Ukraine and Russia

15:09 Flu quarantine cancelled in Ukraine

13:05 Putin says no gas crisis with Ukraine on New Year's

11:03 Yushchenko stresses importance of developing direct ferry service between Ukraine, Georgia

19 November 2009

17:59 WHO detects no mutation of A(H1N1) flu virus in Ukraine

16:32 Payment for Russian gas transit will grow twofold since January 1, 2010 - Prime Minister

14:45 Yushchenko asks Russia to alter gas contract

12:43 Ukraine lost the home match to Greece

10:40 Regions party collects 173 signitures for Cabinet's resignation

18 November 2009

16:30 President hoping to attract investments on the occasion of Euro-2012

14:29 Ukraine, EU to sign agreement on gas crisis prevention

12:50 European Union to send over 700 monitors to presidential elections in Ukraine

11:04 Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2009 opening in Kyiv

16 November 2009

16:35 Russia may modernize Ukrainian gas pipelines - energy minister

All news

Top

Editorial staff:english@for-ua.com
Republication or redistribution of ForUm content, including by framing or similar means,
is allowed with the reference to en.for-ua.com only.
All rights are reserved by © LTD. Inter-Media, ForUm 2001-2009

Development by WebSysBox