U.S.-UKRAINE COOPERATION UNDERWAY TO COMBAT SWINE (H1N1) FLU

The United States Government is committed to working closely with Ukraine to combat specific threats to public health, such as Swine (H1N1) Flu. We have several initiatives in place to assist Ukraine in dealing with public health concerns. Between 2005 and 2006, the United States Government provided rapid assistance (including specialized equipment and laboratory supplies) to Ukraine to combat Avian Influenza. The United States Government is similarly poised to assist Ukraine at this time.

One such initiative is the Biological Threat Reduction Program which works with the Ministry of Health, the State Committee for Veterinary Medicine, and the Academy of Agrarian Sciences to help combat specific threats to public health such as Swine Flu. Since 2005, staffs have been trained on diagnostics, Biosafety, and packaging and shipping of pathogens and similar necessary activities to support sharing of information and securing international assistance. These assets shall be used to the fullest extent possible.

Through the Bio Threat Reduction Program, the United States Government is now working directly with Ukrainian epidemiologists to ensure that Ukraine's Central Sanitary Epidemiological Station (CSES) has adequate laboratory supplies and serums to conduct sample diagnostics in order isolate specific cases should they arise. Material support will be purchased locally and provided immediately.

While Ukraine maintains a good diagnostic capability, the USG also recommends that our Ukrainian partners collect, safely package and air ship samples as they become available to World Health Organization international reference laboratories.

Key Ukrainian ministry and laboratory directors are encouraged to routinely visit the Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov) website for updates and information which can be used to inform the Ukrainian public, assist the ministries in response and facilitate information sharing internationally to better contain the spread of the influenza.

To read a personal message from the Ambassador about Swine (H1N1) Flu and for additional information on Swine (H1N1) Flu, please visit the Embassy's website at http://kyiv.usembassy.gov/