The RA chief infection specialist Ara Asoyan was in Gyumri. He visited Gyumri Medical Center and the infection hospital and then traveled to Vanadzor. In the interview with the journalists, Ara Asoyan said that this year H1N1 virus was detected, which people otherwise call a swine flu. “As per data of yesterday, the number of patients registered in the Republic with influenza was 698, this is the number registered, naturally, you all realize that the real number will be much more. Why? Because you and your relatives do not always go to a medical facility for the flu. But the situation is such that we control it and are watchful, eventually, if I have come to my favorite city Gyumri with a serious working group, it means that the situation is under our control. We have examined all the patients in Gyumri Medical Center and detected 16 patients sick with pneumonia,” said Ara Asoyan.
He also said that 80-85% of patients sick with influenza are infected by H1N1. The chief infectionist recommends not to focus on “Tamiflu” drug because according to him it was something in fashion that came and went away, there are more effective medications. “I would like to ask our journalists not to cause panic, there is an increase of the disease in the whole world, in the countries surrounding us: Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, it exists everywhere. Panic and high vigilance are very close to each other and we should differentiate these phenomena. I think we have nothing to panic and there is no need for it because there is a big team, a great team of health ministry staff with various specialists are working day and night,” said Ara Asoyan.
The chief infectionist reported that six mortality cases were registered, one of them had come to Akhalkalak from Russia and then to Ashotsk, from Ashotsk to Gyumri and later to Yerevan where his death was registered. To the question of whether the virus was not brought in from outside, Ara Asoyan said, “No air transmitted infection emerges in Armenia from the soil or a tree or hills, it is always brought to us either from Russia or Iran or from other countries.” Then, he continued with humor, “It’s an air transmitted infection that does not pass a passport control when crossing the border, nor passes a customs clearance, it penetrates very easily, therefore, it is very difficult to prevent or block or build a barricade.” According to Ara Asoyan, the situation in Shirak marz is less severe compared with other marzes, this marz ranks the 4-5th by the coverage of the infection.
Read also
Nune AREVSHATYAN
