This is a current newsletter from the interpreter I used to use. I'm still in her spam list.
From various people I have heard that they have outbreak of swine flu. They are also saying that in Ukraine there are 4 different types of flu. Below, I am going to paste links where you can find more information about flu in Ukraine. My dad told me that all of the schools, colleges, universities, even government buildings are closed for 3 weeks due to flu. The biggest outbreak of flu is in the west of Ukraine ( Ternopil) but it is moving towards Russia. Some people say that during the day the cities are empty outside, most of the people are wearing face masks trying to protect themselves from the flu. A lot of stores and markets are closed as well.
My suggestion is- if you are planning to go to Ukraine in the near future- make sure to get a seasonal flu shot as well as a swine flu shot. Also, bring with you for yourself and your lady a few face masks and some medications, because most of the people are very scared in Ukraine, and because of the panic, all of the pharmacies are empty and there are almost no medications. Also, I would suggest sending your ladies some face masks and some medications because like I said earlier the pharmacies are almost empty.
Someone else have asked me if there any restrictions on incoming or outgoing flights in Ukraine I didnt hear anything about that, as far as that goes, it is as it was before. But please be prepared, if you were planning to go to a concert or any public gathering while in Ukraine, please call to whatever you were planning to go to make sure it is not cancelled. Due to the flu a lot of concerts and events got cancelled. Here some helpful links:
If you recall the origin of the word 'spam' as it relates to internet emails...
Monty Python did a sketch about 35 years ago about spam. It was that a diner served spam with everything... "But I don't like Spam." ... 'Well you can have the eggs, spam, eggs and spam. It doesn't have as much spam.'
Spam is now a reference to unsolicited emails you receive. And usually they are sent to a box for deletion. However, if you look forward to these messages and open them with anticipation or wistfulness, then you shoud not call them spam. So to say you are on someone's spam list yet can't wait to share about it... ??????
If you like spam, good for you. But do not say you are someone's spam list if you continually open it.
I have a friend that is a medical engineer. By the numbers he quoted in the state there is a death for every 5000 cases to which I suggested these may be people with low level immunity such as chemo patients. He said the highest numbers of deaths is in the 20 to 45 age level which is normally considered the healthiest age group but the younger levels are also affected.
He said in Ukraine he is hearing conflicting reports but some are talking of a mutated strain that fills the lungs with blood and can cause death within a couple days. If this would be the case it would explain the expected population mortality discussed early in this thread. If it is all just political propaganda then it has just created a run on all of the medical supplies.
Just letting you know the supposed mutated Flue that the Ukraine politicians told everyone was going wipe them out- has not knocked me over - yet !!!
Very strange actually - haven't seen one person with even a runny nose in the last month I have been here (Kiev) All our friends and neighbours say the same - nothing going on.
So another example of the R-soles running this country using the media for their own self fulfilling needs. Bloody circus elections on 17/01/10 have 18 standing and it wont make one iota of difference who wins will just be another 4 years of parasitic politicians sucking the blood and good out of the nation and its people.
Assume for a mo I'm no wimp and I only see a doc when I really (really!) need to, ditto for staying at home. I was bed-bound for 6 days and medicated myself, but had to drag myself to a doc in the wee hours. He gave me tamiflu, antibiotics and 3 drips in succession because I was a walking corpse. 3 days later the fever broke, and 1 day later I was back at work.
So no, you won't see persons with a runny nose, they'll be in bed I tell you! But also, it's just a flu. I've had plenty I tell you, but this one's different!