Russia's Health Ministry reports 600 flu deaths in 2009

[JimO]

Source: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20091125/156985241.html

Russia's Health Ministry reports 600 flu deaths in 2009
21:1425/11/2009

MOSCOW, November 25 (RIA Novosti) - About 600 people have died in Russia from flu, including the H1N1 virus, since the start of the year, the health minister said on Wednesday.

"The number of people who have died from different kinds of flu since the start of the year does not exceed 600," Tatyana Golikova said.

The minister said the number of flu and respiratory infection cases has exceeded the epidemic threshold in 46 regions across the country. However, in some cities the number of cases has reduced, she said.

She said 11,633 swine flu cases have been so far registered in Russia.

The official death toll from swine flu in Russia has reached 16. Media reports earlier said there have been 26 human swine flu deaths registered in the country.

Mass swine flu vaccinations began in five Russian regions on November 9.

Four vaccines against the virus have been tested and registered in Russia. The government has allocated 4 billion rubles ($140 million) to buy the initial 43 million doses of vaccines. Russia plans to have 35.5 million doses before the end of the year.

The World Health Organization said the total number of officially confirmed swine flu cases has exceeded 525,000 worldwide, with about 6,750 fatalities, as of November 20.

The Russian health minister warned earlier this month against a media panic over the virus.

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Russia's Health Ministry reports 600 flu deaths in 2009

This seems to be a very clever way to downplay the current influenza epidemic.

 

[tropical]

Re: Russia's Health Ministry reports 600 flu deaths in 2009

This seems to be a very clever way to downplay the current influenza epidemic.

Wow, a reporting pause of 10-11 months ... :bat:
aren't there the public reporting about the cfr numbers start a ~month ago?

#1: "since the start of the year"

 

[alert]

Re: Russia's Health Ministry reports 600 flu deaths in 2009

I wasn't sure what to make of this article; that's why I didn't post it. It is certainly possible that Russia has had 600 H1N1 probable or suspected deaths, especially since Ukraine has reported 404. That figure seems far too low to be the year-long P&I death toll for Russia (I would figure that number is probably about 15,000 in a normal year).

The other possibility is that that is the number of confirmed flu deaths (due to all strains including seasonal) for 2009 (including seasonal flu deaths in January and February). But that figure seems a little high, considering that only a tiny fraction of all seasonal flu deaths are confirmed.