Only schools in the Vitebsk region remain closed due to influenza and ARVI

March 19, Minsk /BELTA/. Only schools in the Vitebsk region remain closed for quarantine due to influenza and ARVI, the Republican Center for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health informed BELTA. As of March 19, classes are canceled in 28 schools in the Vitebsk region. Due to influenza, ARVI and the absence of more than 30% of students in educational institutions, the educational process has been suspended in 403 schools since the beginning of the epidemic rise in incidence of these infections. Anti-epidemic measures for the prevention of influenza and ARVI are still underway in 9 cities of Belarus - Bobruisk, Minsk, Borisov, Soligorsk, Novopolotsk, Baranovichi, Mogilev, Vitebsk, Orsha and 22 districts. In 18 control cities of the republic, 84,584 cases of influenza and ARVI were registered in the week from March 9 to March 14, which is 1.4% higher than in the previous week and 42.3% higher than in the same period of 2008. In total, during the period of epidemiological surveillance from October 6, 2008, 1,308,351 people fell ill with influenza and ARVI in the control cities of the republic, which is 5.5% more than in the same period last year. The proportion of sick children for the entire observation period was 60.4%. 1.3% of those who sought medical help were hospitalized, including 81.7% children under 17 years of age. Adenoviruses (49.2%) and mixed forms (20.3%) prevail in the etiological structure of influenza and ARVI incidence. -0-