Georgian Labourites demand announcement of swine flu epidemic in the country

Georgia sees growth in swine flu patients. 65 children are kept in the central children's clinic of Tbilisi (Murman Iashvili hospital) with symptoms of A/H1N1virus. Nino Kikodze, head of urgent aid ward, said in her conversation with the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that currently the diagnosis is confirmed in some 30-35 patients. The oppositional Labour Party of Georgia demands to urgently announce the epidemic in the country.

"At present, about 90 percent of the patients in the therapeutic ward have either confirmed or suspected A/H1N1 diagnosis. However, most of them have preferred to get examined at our hospital and not to address their local polyclinics," Ms Kikodze said.

As a whole, according to the "Georgia-Online" Agency, Georgia has registered 530 persons, infected with A/H1N1. One lethal case was recorded in Batumi. However, as Zurab Utiashvili believes, every complication is a result of a late address to the medical institution.

"A/H1N1 is just a simple flu virus. It's nothing more than a new strain, against which we have no immunity yet. Basically, it behaves just like all other viruses," said Paata Imnadze, head of the National C for Disease Control.

"Today, the 'Taminflu' is provided free of charge, provided a patient has a certified diagnosis and prescription signed by a doctor. Vaccination of the population will start in February. Besides, children are examined at schools, kindergartens and children's polyclinics," said Zurab Utiashvili.

The government of Georgia states that the swine flu morbidity level in the country is still below the epidemic threshold; therefore, the epidemic was not announced. The oppositional Labour Party of Georgia does not share the authorities' position concerning the situation with swine flu spread and demands from the Ministry of Labour, Public Health and Social Care to announce the state of epidemic immediately, as reported by the "Georgia Today."