Serbia won't declare swine flu epidemic

The working group set up to monitor the spread of swine flu today began a two-day meeting in Belgrade. B92 has learned that a state-wide epidemic of the H1N1 virus will not be declared at this time. Serbia won't declare swine flu epidemic Working group official Veljko Djerkovic said earlier in the day that there will be complete reports from all regions presented, on which the working group will base their decision regarding emergency measures to be taken. “At the meeting, we will precisely analyze all the information related to sickness, deaths and all other parameters. Territorial distribution will be monitored, the intensity of appearances of the flu and what is of essential importance – whether 10 percent of the population in any region is infected with the virus. Once a complete analysis is done, there will be an estimate and predictions, and then there will be a proposal made for proclaiming an epidemic and taking new measures against the virus,” Djerkovic said. He added that the measures do not have to be implement throughout the country, "only in the most critical regions". “With an epidemic declared, an emergency vaccination can be implemented – one of the chief measures with which we want to achieve a collective immunity, to have as many people as possible create antibodies and decrease the speed of infection,” Djerkovic said. Health Minister Tomislav Milosavljevic is also expected to attend the two-day meeting. If and when an epidemic is proclaimed, preschools will be closed, and indoors public gatherings banned, while concerts and sporting events held outdoors will be prohibited "only once the conditions for doing so have been met". The Institute of Public Health of Serbia Dr. Milan Jovanovic Batut, which monitors the epidemic situation in the country together with the Serbian Health Ministry and the special working group, stated on Tuesday that a total of 258 cases of swine flu were registered in Serbia. Seven people have so far been confirmed as dying from the infection.

Serbia won't declare swine flu epidemic

Working group official Veljko Đerković said earlier in the day that there will be complete reports from all regions presented, on which the working group will base their decision regarding emergency measures to be taken.

“At the meeting, we will precisely analyze all the information related to sickness, deaths and all other parameters. Territorial distribution will be monitored, the intensity of appearances of the flu and what is of essential importance – whether 10 percent of the population in any region is infected with the virus. Once a complete analysis is done, there will be an estimate and predictions, and then there will be a proposal made for proclaiming an epidemic and taking new measures against the virus,” Đerković said.

He added that the measures do not have to be implement throughout the country, "only in the most critical regions".

“With an epidemic declared, an emergency vaccination can be implemented – one of the chief measures with which we want to achieve a collective immunity, to have as many people as possible create antibodies and decrease the speed of infection,” Đerković said.

Health Minister Tomislav Milosavljević is also expected to attend the two-day meeting.

If and when an epidemic is proclaimed, preschools will be closed, and indoors public gatherings banned, while concerts and sporting events held outdoors will be prohibited "only once the conditions for doing so have been met".

The Institute of Public Health of Serbia Dr. Milan Jovanović Batut, which monitors the epidemic situation in the country together with the Serbian Health Ministry and the special working group, stated on Tuesday that a total of 258 cases of swine flu were registered in Serbia.

Seven people have so far been confirmed as dying from the infection.