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Avoid flu-hit UK, Russians warned Russian school trip flu bar urged
(41 minutes later)
Russia's chief public health officer has recommended that all school trips from Russia to the UK this summer be halted due to the danger of swine flu. Russia's chief public health officer has recommended the cancellation of school trips abroad this summer as a precaution against swine flu.
Gennady Onishchenko had earlier said he had instructed regional officials that no groups should visit there in August. The advice issued by Gennady Onishchenko's office came after he warned on television against school trips to the UK specifically.
It comes after two groups of children fell ill with suspected swine flu after returning from the UK this week. Two groups of children fell ill with suspected H1N1 after returning from the UK earlier this week.
Until then, Russia had only recorded 28 cases of the H1N1 virus, compared with nearly 100,000 in the UK. Until then, Russia had only 28 known cases compared to the UK's 100,000.
It is believed to have caused the deaths of 816 people worldwide, including some 30 in the UK, according to the World Health Organization. The virus is believed to have caused the deaths of 816 people worldwide, including some 30 in the UK, according to the World Health Organization.
'Unfortunate country''Unfortunate country'
So far this is not a ban on Russian schoolchildren travelling to the UK, it is only an advisory. So far this is not a ban on Russian schoolchildren travelling to the UK, it is only an advisory, the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes reports from Moscow.
But already some Russian parents are taking heed and pulling their children out of trips planned for August.
England is today an unfortunate country - I would even say the most unfortunate country in Europe Gennady OnishchenkoEngland is today an unfortunate country - I would even say the most unfortunate country in Europe Gennady Onishchenko
But already some Russian parents are taking heed and pulling their children out of trips planned for August.
Fear has been stoked by the statements of Mr Onishchenko, who on Tuesday morning described England as the "most unfortunate country in Europe".Fear has been stoked by the statements of Mr Onishchenko, who on Tuesday morning described England as the "most unfortunate country in Europe".
"Today, I have signed an instruction for the regions, saying that they should identify all the children [who are on trips to the UK] and that not a single group of children should travel to the UK in August," he told Vesti TV. "Today, I have signed an instruction for the regions, saying that they should identify all the children [who are on trips to the UK] and that not a single group of children should travel to the UK in August," he went on to tell Vesti TV.
But Mr Onishchenko now appears to have backtracked, and the latest advice from his office is that it is recommended that school trips abroad be curtailed or even put on hold for a while. It also does not mention the UK specifically.But Mr Onishchenko now appears to have backtracked, and the latest advice from his office is that it is recommended that school trips abroad be curtailed or even put on hold for a while. It also does not mention the UK specifically.
It all follows the news that 14 Russian children are in hospital in the city of Yekaterinburg after returning from a school trip to Oxford last week. There has been no word on their condition. It follows the news that 14 Russian children are in hospital in the city of Yekaterinburg after returning from a school trip to Oxford last week. There has been no word on their condition.
Russian authorities have been accused of over-reacting to the swine flu pandemic before.Russian authorities have been accused of over-reacting to the swine flu pandemic before.
In late April, Russia's chief veterinary officer banned the import of pork and chicken from Mexico and large parts of the US, despite scientific advice that swine flu could not be carried in meat.In late April, Russia's chief veterinary officer banned the import of pork and chicken from Mexico and large parts of the US, despite scientific advice that swine flu could not be carried in meat.