Armenia to close schools for one week, 32 cases

[Roehl_JC]

RA authorities intend to close schools to avoid flu epidemics, but for one week only.

The final decision will be made after the meeting of Education and Health Ministers with RA Premier, RA Education Ministry press service informed NEWS.am. The schools will probably close starting tomorrow, December 8, however schoolchildren will be back to normal schedule from Dec. 15 up to winter vocations, that is Dec.25.

Earlier, RA Health Ministry held session on temporary closing of schools and kindergartens due to flu epidemic. To date, three seasonal flu (influenza A) death cases are registered in Armenia. One woman and one man died of flu on Dec. 1 and 3 in ?Armenia? and ?Erebuni? medical centers.

The number of swine flu cases reached 32 in Armenia.

http://news.am/en/news/10093.html

[Pathfinder]

Re: Armenia to close schools for one week, 32 cases

News | 14.12.09 | 18:15

Empty schools made the flu step back

By Karine Ionesyan
ArmeniaNow reporter

The decision of health officials to close schools and kindergartens as a mean to fight with a wide spread flu through the republic seems to be a good solution to the ailments of thousands across Armenia.

Anush Gevorgyan, chief doctor at K2 Clinics in Erebuni Community (Yerevan) says that since children are on the imposed break they stopped contact with each other and the infection started gradually decreasing.

During the recent month, the seasonal flu has touched nearly every family in Armenia and has led to three deaths that caused concern and severe response including closing schools.

The existence of swine flu (with 54 reported cases in Armenia, but no reported deaths) added to parents?, teachers? and officials? concern. (School will be out until December 19 ? returning for one week before breaking for New Year holiday.)

Liana Torosyan, chief specialist at the Ministry of Health's State Hygienic Anti-Epidemic Inspection, says that parents do not have to worry any more, because the number of cases of disease has drastically decreased.

?Last week 153 calls were registered daily, and now their number is only 100,?, she says.

The clinic in Avan Community also informed that they get 19-20 calls per day, which is a rather normal index in winter season.

http://www.armenianow.com/news/20037/empty_schools_made_the_flu_step_back