The consignment of 200,000 flu shots donated by the United States is expected to reach Moldova this week. The representatives of the Ministry of Health said the situation is under control and the number of recorded cases of flu is much lower than the pandemic level, the situation being not at all critical, IPN reports.

Stela Cheptene, consultant of the press service of the Ministry of Health, said the personnel of health facilities, social workers and employees of emergency services as well as the patients with chronic diseases and others will be the first to be vaccinated.

Last year, the flu immunization process started at the end of December. Stela Cheptene noted there is no need to increase the number of flu vaccines. The consignment of 200,000 shots meets the necessities related to the target group. Vaccination is not mandatory, but the flu shot can be administered at request.

Health Division head Mihai Moldovanu, in the December 5 meeting of officials of Chisinau services and divisions, said the first cases of flu the current epidemic season were recorded in Moldova. Six cases have been reported so far, two of which in Chisinau municipality. Three of the five cases recorded in the municipality involve children. The neighboring state Ukraine is witnessing hundreds of thousands of cases of A H1N1 flu and there are also cases of death. The hotbeds are close to the border with Romania, where cases of flu were also recorded.