The FINANCIAL — Ukraine, one of the closest political and trade partners of Georgia could become the source of spreading the H1N1 Virus to Georgia. According to the Department of Statistics of Georgia, in the year 2009 (January-September) 2,972,942 million USD worth of products were imported from Ukraine.
The country leads the list of most popular travel destinations for Georgians. Up to 10,000 people visit Ukraine weekly.
The swine flu epidemic in Ukraine — where there have been 95 confirmed deaths from H1N1 — is the second worst in Europe after Great Britain.
The World Health Organization’s flu chief said the swine flu virus has now become the predominant flu strain worldwide. H1N1 swine flu is on the rise in China and Japan after triggering an unusually early start to the winter influenza season in Europe, Central Asia and North America, the World Health Organization said on November 6.
The first swine flu case has been officially confirmed in Azerbaijan, RFE/RL’s Azerbaijani Service reported.
According to the U.N. agency’s latest official toll, which is thought to underestimate the total spread of the virus, at least 6,071 people worldwide have died as a result of an H1N1 infection since its discovery earlier this year in Mexico and the United States.
“The risk of spreading the disease from Ukraine, is the same as the risk from Great Britain and Germany, were there is epidemic caused from pandemic flu virus,” says Paata Imnadze, Head of the National Centre for Disease Control and Public Health.
At present, three companies have flights to and from Ukraine: Airzena, Ukraine International Airline and Aerosvit. Company representatives say they have not introduced any restrictions yet.
“We have not implemented any changes or restrictions in flights to and from Ukraine,” says Nino Giorgobiani, PR Manager of Airzena.
The flu did not influence our flight statistics. In October 2009, 1,613 passengers departed, 1,692 arrived, compared with 2008, when 1,474 departed, 1,716 arrived. Moreover neither Ukraine international Airline nor Aerosvit have imposed any restrictions in flights.
There are no changes in trade and commerce.
“We have analyzed the issue and there are no products that might be of danger, so the flu would not have any influence on import from Ukraine,” says Mikheil Janelidze, head of the Department of Foreign Trade and International Economic Relations.
“The restrictions of flights and import from Ukraine are not considered by international health rules,” says Paata Imnadze.
Tamiflu which was recognized as the best medicine for elimination of the A (H1N1) virus, is now available in Georgia.
At present Tamiflu is available in PSP drug stores. Natia Khabeishvili, the PR Manager of PSP, says “The stock was filled on Wednesday, November 4, there is a big enough supply of the medicine available in each of our PSP stores. The price of Tamiflu is 58 GEL.”
Tamiflu is approved for adults and children aged 1 year and older and is available in pill form. Tamiflu must be taken within 12 to 48 hours from the first appearance of flu symptoms. It helps to stop the flu virus spreading inside the body.
Tamiflu is produced by Hoffman La Roche, Swedish Pharmaceutical Company.
“In 2005 Tamiflu first appeared in the Georgian market. The Government had bought the stock of medicine in the years 2006 and 2007,” says Guga Ramishvili, Director of the company’s local representation. “At first the medicine had validity of five years, however now it is 7.”
“The validity of Tamiflu expired in July 2009; as a result we do not have any more Tamiflu in stock, however, in case of need we will probably bring the medicine. The cost of Tamiflu at Aversi in July was 29.78 GEL,” says Nino Todua, the PR Manager of Aversi.
“At present there are 31 cases of infected people in Georgia. A (H1N1) is Pandemic Flu and has nothing in connection with Swine Flu,” says Paata Imnadze.
“At the end of November it is predicted that the number of infected people will increase,” Imnadze says.
In order to decrease the outcomes from H1N1 virus, the National Centre for Disease Control and Public Health holds public-awareness rising campaigns, special leaflets are spread for the population. Moreover Georgia has a large supply of anti-virus medicines and mask.
At present, in Georgia there is no vaccine against H1N1 flu.
“Recently several countries have recognized the vaccine, however the World Health Organization has not recognized any, Georgia has already made a declaration on the vaccine,” says Paata Imnadze. “Quarantine will be declared if there are 1,100 registered flu cases in every 100,000 people.”
The H1N1 virus is infectious, spreading from person to person. The most common symptoms are flu-like symptoms: headache, feverishness, shivering, coughing, diseases of the throat, muscle and joint articulation ache.
The National Centre for Disease Control and Public Health gives advice on how to defend oneself from the flu.
To avoid the flu, it is important to take some preventative measures: do not enter in to contact with a person who is not well, sneezing or coughing, avoid touching things and surfaces that might be polluted by the virus, wash your hands as frequently as possible, try to lead a healthy life, be in good physical form, have good sleep and be physically active, avoid stress, drink plenty of water and eat healthy products.
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