The Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population (MoHSPP) has announced registration of cases of H1N1/09 influenza (swine flu) in Tajikistan.  An official source within a MoHSPP says this is seasonal flu and is not a cause for concern.  

“Influenza A - H1N1-09 or swine flu that has already become the seasonal flu has been spreading around the world since 2010.  And now is the season of acute respiratory viral infections and flu-like illnesses,” Navrouz Jafarov, an official with the MoHSPP, told Asia-Plus in an interview.  

According to him, now there is a registration of patients, and according to statistics there is no reason for concern.  

Influenza A (H1N1 and H3N2) and B are reportedly the most common cases in Tajikistan.  

Despite the fact that the method of treatment is the same for all types of influenza, medical workers recommend that those having a high temperature not self-medicate but contact specialists.

There will be no quarantine in schools, Jafarov added.

 According to him, quarantine is declared when 50 percent of pupils do not attend classes.

The pandemic H1N1/09 virus is a swine origin influenza A virus subtype H1N1 strain that was responsible for the 2009 swine flu pandemic.  This strain is often called swine flu by the public media. The virus is a novel strain of the influenza virus, for which existing vaccines against seasonal flu provided no protection.