Yuschenko calls for proper preparations for second wave of flu, respiratory infections

16:35

Ukrainian President Viktor Yuschenko has called for proper preparations to be made for a second wave of acute respiratory viral infections and flu, including the A/H1N1 flu virus.

He said this at a council on taking urgent measures to ensure regional security during the epidemic situation in Kherson region on Tuesday.

"Ukraine should prepare properly for a second wave of acute respiratory viral infections and flu, including California flu," Yuschenko said.

He said that the first wave of flu in Ukraine had passed. Yuschenko said that lessons should be learned from the epidemiological situation in the country.

He stressed the need to improve diagnosis of the disease, which he said was impossible to do without an adequate number of flu testing laboratories. Yuschenko said that only 20 to 30 laboratory tests could currently be conducted in Ukraine per day.

Yuschenko said that 1,082 tests had been conducted in Ukraine over the last 11 days, and that 65 cases of swine flu had been confirmed.

He said that 150-200 tests should be conducted a day for the population of 46 million Ukrainians.

Yuschenko said that regional governors should analyze the situation in their regions and decide how many laboratories should be set up.

10.11.2009