SWINE FLU SCHOOL CLOSURE TOUCHES OFF PANIC IN ARMENIA

Hurriyet
Dec 18 2009
Turkey

Armenia’s decision to close public schools and kindergartens for two
weeks in response to an outbreak of influenza is fueling panic about
a swine flu pandemic. Officials assert the worries are groundless,
and stress that they are "in control" of the situation.

One Yerevan bus passenger wearing a facemask, a protective device used
with increasing frequency throughout the South Caucasus, scoffs at the
government’s assertion. "One has to be an optimist to believe this,"
the woman said. "How do I know what will happen to us tomorrow? With
this mask, at least I am more likely not to catch an infection from
the air. Every day I hear about new deaths from my acquaintances."

Armenia’s Health Ministry confirmed Dec. 15 that two people have died
of swine flu, RFE/RL’s Armenian Service reported. State Hygiene and
Anti-Epidemiological Inspectorate head Artavazd Vanian identified
the victims – Armenia’s first to reportedly die from swine flu –
as a young man and a pregnant woman from the town of Hrazdan.

The woman died Dec. 13 and the man a couple days earlier. An autopsy
on a third man who died late last month revealed that he was not
suffering from swine flu. Vanian said the authorities have so far
registered 80 cases of swine flu. He said 26 people are currently
hospitalized. The spread of the potentially deadly virus is believed
to be the main reason why on Dec. 7 the government ordered all schools
and kindergartens across the country to be closed for two weeks as
"a preventive measure against all strains of influenza."

On Dec. 14, the ministry reported that 80 people had been hospitalized
with suspected cases of swine flu. Health Minister Harutiun Kushkian
said Dec. 8, however, that the situation was "not a pandemic," but to
prevent the flu outbreak from spreading, the government would shut all
public schools and kindergartens until Dec. 19. Officials have not
explained how they selected the re-opening date, or what additional
steps they expect to take to protect youngsters from influenza.

The government’s decision appears to have reinforced many Yerevan
residents’ worst fears. One mother of two says she will not send her
children to school no matter what the authorities decide to do. "How
could I send my kids to school when I constantly fear [the infection],
when people keep sneezing in the street and many schoolchildren have
fallen ill?" Mariam Nshanian said. "We’d better stay at home and not
go out, and try to prevent the infection through folk remedies."

Tamiflu, a popular influenza medicine, has already vanished from
Yerevan drugstores. It is now available only at outpatient clinics
and hospitals in case of special needs, but at no charge. Kushkian
announced Dec. 8 that Armenia would receive 300,000 H1N1 flu virus
vaccines in late January 2010 from the World Health Organization.

"This quantity is quite enough for us," Kushkian said.

But many Armenians, skeptical of government promises, are relying
instead on garlic necklaces, shots of vodka and spoonfuls of berry
jam to ward off the disease. Garlic prices have doubled in Yerevan
groceries and markets with the onset of the flu season. But even with
higher prices, only imported garlic from Iran can be found in stock.

"Armenian garlic is more expensive because it is stronger. But we
don’t have any available. It’s all sold out," said Yerevan supermarket
assistant Aida Meliksetian, standing at a table with only a scant
selection of garlic cloves.