Flue outbreak in Ukraine as viewed by 2 health ministers, present and former

In response to the call for help from Ukraine, doctors from neighboring European countries have come to examine a reportedly new variety of the flue. It will take several days for them to give their verdict.

Meanwhile, Ukraine former health minister Mykola Polishchuk is convinced that all rhetoric around the flue will stop after the presidential election.

There is no ground to speak of an epidemic of the swine flue in Ukraine, he says. Of all the flue cases, a mere 14 have been confirmed as those of the California flue. The major threat posed by the swine flue lies in the fact that it is a new kind for Ukraine and Ukrainians have no immunity against it. That is why its sickness rate is very high, Prof. Polishchuk warns.

In the 9 months of 2008, 3,989 persons died from the cold and flue in Ukraine, against 3,221 in the 10 months of 2009, or 700 fewer than in 2008, the expert observes. “Still, in 2008 Ukrainians were not as panicky as this year,” he adds.

In Polishchuk’s opinion, politicians are cashing in on the epidemic, trying to score political points, shamelessly fanning the panic in Ukraine. “Such rhetoric will lead to the growth of mortality rate due to heart diseases,” he remarks. “Why don’t they tell that about 20 persons die every hour in Ukraine, of these 64% of heat diseases?” Polishchuk asks, adding there won’t be any panic when the presidential election is over.

He says the country’s sanitary/epidemiological service is acting effectively, localizing the outbreak’s source.

“It is for the first time in my 40-year career as doctor that I can see such frenzy around a flue outbreak created by politicians and the media,” Polishcjuk sums up.