KHOROG, December 23, 2009, Asia-Plus -- Flu epidemic that was registered last week in the Eastern Pamir (Murgab district and part of the Ishkashim district) has spread to the Western Pamir.

According to Ms. Paykarmon Aliyorova, the chairperson of the GBAO health directorate, significant increase in the number of flu cases has been registered this week in Khorog, the capital of Gorno Badakhshan.

“Specialists from Khorog and Dushanbe have been sent to Murgab and Ishkashim to provide emergency medical service for local residents having contracted flu,” said Aliyorova, “These measures have allowed reducing the rate of infection with flu there.”  However, flu is currently ranging throughout the city of Khorog and the Roshtqala district.

“Official data received from the districts shows that some 9,000 cases of flu have been registered in the region over the past two weeks,” said Aliyorova, “Only five persons have been diagnosed with pneumonia and acute respiratory diseases in the region over the report period.”

All 338 medical facilities operating in Gorno Badakhshan have been involved in preventing and treating flu.  443 physicians and 1,640 nurses now work with these medical facilities that have been provided with all necessary medicines, Aliyorova said.

She added that blood samples of those hospitalized on suspicion of having contracted swine flu had been sent to Dushanbe for testing and they had been proved to be negative.