Medical-sanitary institutions join efforts to combat pandemic flu

The public medical-sanitary institutions in Moldova have joined efforts to fight the new pandemic influenza virus A (H1N1). Awareness–raising campaigns will be carried out to inform the population about the symptoms and effects of the disease, Info-Prim Neo reports. At a meeting with medical institution managers on November 3, Minister of Health Vladimir Hotineanu said that the state of affairs has worsened given that the neighboring countries face dangerous epidemiological situations. Measures have been taken to supply the vulnerable groups of people with vaccines against flu, Deputy Minister of Health Oleg Lozan said. The campaign to vaccinate pregnant women, children, medical personnel, border guards and customs officers will close towards the end of this month. A number of 600,000 vaccines will be available in Moldova. The 100,000 vaccines provided by the World Bank will come to Moldova late in December. Another 100,000 vaccines are offered by richer states, while 400,000 shots were allocated by the World Health Organization, the deputy minister said. Vasile Turcanu, chief doctor of the Balti-based Preventive Medicine Center, said that the municipality of Balti is prepared to deal with the new virus. There were held seminars and the population was informed about the disease through mass media. The head of the Cantemir District Hospital Iurie Mihaiescu said they also take prophylaxis measures. “No case of pandemic flu has been reported in the district, but there are cases of seasonal flu. The district hospital is ready to provide medical assistance. We have enough anti-flu drugs,” he said. Galina Obreja, the head of the Health Ministry’s Health Protection and Preventive Medicine Division, said that the population must realize the danger posed by the virus. She warned that most often the virus is transmitted in the public units of transport and recommended wearing masks, using handkerchiefs and avoiding crowded places. Twenty-nine cases of A (H1N1) flu have been confirmed in Moldova so far. There were recorded 154 suspect cases.