Cablegate: Ukraine: Fighting the Flu with Garlic and Onion

VZCZCXRO0227
PP RUEHIK
DE RUEHKV #1915/01 3091604
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 051604Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY KYIV
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8735
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA PRIORITY
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KYIV 001915

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CDC SOCI PREL AMED CASC XH UP
SUBJECT: UKRAINE: FIGHTING THE FLU WITH GARLIC AND ONION

REF: A) 09 KYIV 01890 B) 09 KYIV 01893 C) 09 KYIV 01900
D) 09 KYIV 01911

KYIV 00001915 001.2 OF 002

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED, NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION

1. (U) Summary. In a broadcast to the nation on November 4,
President Yushchenko accused his political rivals of criminal
negligence for their handling of the H1N1 outbreak. Prime Minister
Tymoshenko, one of the "accused", did not help her case when she on
the same day publicly indicated that she preferred eating lemon,
onion and garlic to fight off the flu rather than getting
vaccinated. WHO Ukrainian country office head Igor Pokanevych,
meanwhile, said publically that only a mass H1N1 vaccination of the
population will stop the epidemic. Yushchenko urged Ukrainians to
overcome their negative attitude toward vaccines in general and
protect themselves with available flu shots. End Summary.

YUSHCHENKO CHARGES OPPONENTS WITH NEGLIGENCE
--------------------------------------------

2. (U) In the latest episode of a high-level contest to claim credit
and assign blame for Ukraine's flu outbreak, Yushchenko accused
Tymoshenko, Party of the Regions leader Yanukovich and Verkhovna
Rada (Parliament) speaker Lytvyn of criminal negligence for their
handling of the epidemic. In a televised address to the nation,
Yushchenko claimed his opponents were aware of a flu outbreak when
they held their mass election campaign rallies and compared the
events to May Day rallies in Kyiv held just days after the Chernobyl
disaster. "I see not only moral, but criminal responsibility here,"
Yushchenko said on TV and reportedly asked the Prosecutor General's
Office "to open a criminal investigation into the cases of
negligence" amongst Ukraine's top health officials and government
members.

GARLIC, ONION AS ALTENATIVE TO VACCINES - TYMOSHENKO
--------------------------------------------- -------

3. (U) Tymoshenko, addressing residents of Ivano-Frankivsk in
western Ukraine, said that people must decide whether to get
vaccinated or protect themselves by "traditional" methods. "I am
not vaccinated. I am protecting myself like everybody -- with
lemon, onion, garlic [...]. I think the best way to protect your
health is through well-known means," Tymoshekno said on local TV.

4. (SBU) The Ministry of Health, following the WHO guidelines,
advised residents of non-quarantined regions to get vaccinated
against seasonal flu. Yushchenko also called on the Ukrainians to
overcome their negative attitude toward vaccines and protect
themselves with available flu shots. [Note: Currently, Ukraine has
seasonal flu vaccines but no H1N1 vaccines. Two H1N1 vaccines,
produced by Russia and Canada, are currently undergoing a
registration process in Ukraine and could be available in December
2009-January 2010. End Note.]

H1N1 VACCINATION NEEDED TO STOP VIRUS - WHO
-------------------------------------------

5. (U) WHO Ukrainian country office head Igor Pokanevych underscored
the importance of vaccination in an interview with German News
agency Deutsche Welle. According to Pokanevych, only a mass
vaccination of the population with H1N1 vaccines will stop the flu
outbreak in Ukraine. Answering a question about the availability of
H1N1 vaccines in Ukraine, Pokanevych said the WHO has the capability
to import the vaccines relatively quickly, should the situation in
Ukraine present a real threat. At the same time, however, he
cautioned that the H1N1 vaccine is in high demand around the world,
not just in Ukraine.

LATEST STATISTICS
-----------------

6. (U) According to the Ministry of Health, at least 87 people have
now died and more than 250,000 have become sick with flu-like
symptoms over the past three weeks in Ukraine. The actual number of
confirmed cases of swine flu, however, is very small, primarily due
to the lack of test results. The outbreak affects 11 out of 25 of
Ukraine's regions.

COMMENT
-------

7. (SBU) Tymoshenko's public snub of flu vaccinations indicates a
dangerous tendency among Ukrainians to rely on home remedies and
shun modern medical practices. Already few Ukrainians receive
annual flu vaccinations and are skeptical of their safety. The
problem extends beyond flu vaccinations as well. General childhood
immunization rates have fallen in the past few years as a result of
sensational stories in the press of children dying as a result of
routine vaccinations. It is likely many will shun H1N1 vaccines

KYIV 00001915 002.2 OF 002

once they do arrive here unless the government quickly unites behind
a strong public relations campaign, something that will be difficult
given the ongoing presidential campaign. End Comment.

PETTIT

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