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Kyrgyzstan closes schools due to flu outbreak

2009-11-24 13:32 BJT

Special Report: World tackles A/H1N1 flu |

The A/H1N1 flu is spreading in Central Asian countries. Kyrgyzstan has closed all schools in the capital, Bishkek, until the end of November to contain the flu. Wu Peng has more.

The flu outbreak has hit schools hardest. About a third of students and a fifth of teachers have been infected.

The government decided to close all schools for one week.

Efforts to determine whether cases are the A/H1N1 flu, or just seasonal flu have been hampered by insufficient testing facilities.

Zhenishbek Ergeshov, emergency doctor, said, "There are many calls. One crew does ten and more calls a day, on average its 15."

In other central Asian countries, Uzbekistan has closed its border with neighboring Kazakhstan to all but citizens returning home. Local media and residents connect the move to fears about the outbreak of the A/H1N1 flu.

The World Health Organization reported last Friday that Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and parts of Afghanistan have all reported increased flu cases.

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Editor: Liu Anqi | Source: CCTV.com