Moldova Reports Increase In Swine Flu Infections

CHISINAU -- Moldova's Health Ministry says 25 high-school students in Chisinau have tested positive for swine flu, raising the number of those infected in the country to 65, RFE/RL's Moldovan Service reports.

Elementary and secondary schools were on holiday this week, and the government announced that schools will remain closed next week as well.

The Health Ministry said that the country's universities will also take a week of holiday from November 9-15.

Thus far only one swine-flu patient, a 50-year-old man, has died in Moldova.

The Moldovan government announced on November 4 that it will buy 500,000 doses of Tamiflu from Switzerland.

It added the World Health Organization has promised to send Moldova swine-flu vaccines in December.

Moldova's Pharmacists Association said the demand for antiviral medication has increased tenfold over the last week and the demand for surgical masks has gone up even more so.

Pharmacists Association Chairman Vladimir Safta advised citizens on November 5 to make their own masks, using several layers of tissue and an elastic band.

He added that if done properly they are "even better than the ones you buy."

Much of Moldova borders western Ukraine, which has seen the largest outbreak of swine flu in continental Europe, with dozens of deaths.