Czechs not to close border over flu in Ukraine

Some 255,000 people infected with flu have been reported in Ukraine. Official Ukrainian sources say most of those infected fell victim to seasonal flu and about 20 people died of swine flu.

Pecina pointed out that various sources state different numbers of people who got infected.

He said the situation was not as serious as media interpreted it.

Pecina noted that if a Schengen border was to be closed, the EU member countries would have to agree on it.

He said the Czech Republic earmarked five million crowns for aid to Ukraine.

However, Prime Minister Jan Fischer said the government has not yet agreed on this. He said it would depend on the situation in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko asked the United States, the European Union, NATO, and its neighbours for help in connection with the flu epidemic this weekend.

The western part of the country, especially the area around Lviv, has been hit by the epidemic the most.

($1=17.883 crowns)

Author: ČTK
www.ctk.cz