The number of people, infected with the pandemic A/H1N1 strain of flu virus, is on the rise in Russia and Europe, Russia's chief sanitary doctor has said.
Gennady Onishchenko said A-type flu viruses account for about 71% of all seasonal flu cases in Europe, and 93% of them are swine flu.
"The reports are alarming, they show that the A/H1N1 pandemic virus is on the rise again," he said.
The number of swine flu cases is on the increase in eight Russian regions, including the densely populated Moscow area. Situation in other regions is "normal," he said.
The swine flu pandemic claimed over 18,000 lives worldwide last year. Russia has been among more than 214 countries and overseas territories or communities, which have reported laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 on their territory, including over 18,138 deaths.
MOSCOW, January 16 (RIA Novosti)
