Swine flu reported in 82 Russian constituent territories - Rospotrebnadzor

MOSCOW. Dec 13 (Interfax) - The cold and flu morbidity has grown 35% week-on-week in Russia, while swine flu has been reported in 82 constituent territories, the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor) said in a statement.

"The cold and flu morbidity is up 35.4% week-on-week. Thirty-seven constituent territories have reported incidence rates higher than Russia's average," Rospotrebnadzor's press service told reporters.

The share of flu among viral infections stands at 52.5% and continues to grow. The so-called swine flu, A(H1N1)-2009, prevails. It has been reported in 82 Russian constituent territories. There are also flu types A(H3N2) and B.

The cold and flu morbidity is the highest in the Tyumen region, the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District, the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), the Astrakhan region, the Chukotka Autonomous District, Komi, the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous District, Buryatia and the Kostroma and Vologda regions.

Over 74 million people have been vaccinated for flu, which is nearly 52% of the national population.

Rospotrebnadzor head Anna Popova said at the beginning of December that swine flu (H1N1), which caused the 2009 epidemic, had reemerged in Russia. This flu type causes a large number of complications and could be lethal. Popova said that the flu epidemic might peak by the New Year holidays unless proper precautions are taken by the population. She also warned of growing Covid-19 and flu rates.