Ukraine Reports More Flu Deaths, Infections

KYIV -- The number of people in Ukraine who have died from flu and respiratory diseases has reached 174, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service reports.

Ukraine's Heath Ministry said on November 10 that 19 people had died in the past two days to reach the new total.

Fourteen of the 19 fatalities were reported to be attributed to swine flu.

The ministry also announced that the number of flu and respiratory disease patients in the country has gone over 1 million.

The majority of the deaths were reported in the western oblasts of Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk.

Health officials also confirmed 65 new cases of swine flu.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and President Viktor Yushchenko told journalists on Novmber 9 that the situation surrounding the flu epidemic in the country is stabilizing. A flu epidemic was declared in Ukraine at the end of last month.

Tymoshenko announced last week that schools will be closed for three weeks. She also placed a ban on large public gatherings.