Swine flu: Suspected H1N1 cases in Armenia yet to be confirmed

Armenian healthcare officials have confirmed that three cases of H1N1, commonly known as swine flu, are registered in Armenia this week; however the final conclusion must be given by the referent laboratory of the World Health Organization (WHO) in London.

One of the carriers of the virus is an Iranian, who arrived in Armenia from Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine. (During the past few weeks, swine flu was rapidly spreading in Ukraine, where 90 people have already died of the H1N1 virus).

Armenian healthcare officials have confirmed that three cases of H1N1, commonly known as swine flu, are registered in Armenia this week; however the final conclusion must be given by the referent laboratory of the World Health Organization (WHO) in London.

One of the carriers of the virus is an Iranian, who arrived in Armenia from Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine. (During the past few weeks, swine flu was rapidly spreading in Ukraine, where 90 people have already died of the H1N1 virus).

The two other people suspected of having swine flu are young residents of Echmiadzin, Armavir province, who arrived from Moscow and they are currently at the ‘Nork’ infection hospital in Yerevan. And as for the citizen of Iran, who was taken to the same hospital a few days ago, according to Ara Asoyan, Chief Infectologist of the Ministry of Healthcare of Armenia, is already cured and returned to his homeland. The young men from Echmiadzin are likely to be discharged from hospital in three days.

The results of the analyses are already sent to London, and their final answers will be ready in a few days. As of November 10, Armenia is not included in the WHO website’s (www.who.int) list of the countries with confirmed swine flu cases.

Despite assurances from health bosses that the situation in Armenia is stable and entirely under control, panic is noticed among many people here. Particularly, news is spreading that special so-called flu-fighting masks are in short supply at pharmacies in Yerevan.

In order to find out whether it is true or not, ArmeniaNow visited five different pharmacies in the Armenian capital. Medical masks were sold everywhere; however, not all of them were of high quality. The price of masks varies between 40-100 drams (about 1-3 cents). For example, at the ‘Natalie Pharm’ pharmacy the usual price for net masks had been 50 drams (13 cents) per unit, however, since yesterday their price is 100 drams
(26 cents). Shop assistants at all pharmacies say that there has been no rapid rise in mask demand yet.