DUSHANBE, January 5, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- 238,000 cases of acute respiratory viral infection, including 15,600 flu cases, were reported in Tajikistan last year, Navrouz Jafarov, representative of the Center for Sanitary and Epidemiological Supervision at the Ministry of Health (MoH), said in an interview with Asia-Plus.

“Despite these figures, seasonal flu activity still remains below the epidemic threshold,” said Jafarov.  “Compared to 2011 the current flu situation is better; however, flu cases have increased among children.”

To-date, more than 6,500 cases of aftereffect of flu, primarily acute pneumonia, have been registered in the country, according to him.

“Unfortunately, our center has failed to take pharmaceutical measures to prevent spread of influenza due to financial difficulties,” health official noted.

He further added that the number of cases of combined types of flu was expected to increase in the second half of January.  “To add to seasonal types of flu such as AH3N2 and AH1N1, influenza ‘B’ will spread in the country in late January,” Jafarov said.