ST.PETERSBURG. Jan 28 (Interfax-AVN) - The medical service of the Leningrad Military District has procured over 17,000 flu vaccine doses in anticipation of a new flu epidemic, the district's logistics support headquarters told Interfax-Military News Agency on Wednesday.
"Given the lack of centralized deliveries the medical service of the Leningrad Military District has procured over 17,000 influenza vaccine doses. This step has been caused by forecasts that a new flu epidemic is possible in late February - early March," a headquarters official said.
According to him, the medical service has provided military units and colleges with the necessary amount of medicine on time.
He also said that people, arriving from epidemic areas, underwent a ten-day medical observation. "Should a flu epidemic break out, isolation wards, capable of accommodating 10% of personnel, could be deployed on a short notice, with suitable rooms, equipped with necessary public utilities and medical equipment, provided for. Such isolation wards have been established both in military units and colleges," the official said.
He said that all conscripts had been getting onions or garlic on a daily basis since November.
"Young conscripts, drafted last autumn, have been inoculated. Military units jointly with the Military Medical Academy have organized immunoprophylaxis, involving medicines of the latest generation, in order to improve immunity of servicemen. Given the fact that young conscripts, featuring deceased immunity and weight, as well as insufficient food rations, catch cold more frequently, the Leningrad Military District command sends such personnel to military health centers and hospitals for rehabilitation," he said.