You're reading: Death toll from flu, respiratory infections in Ukraine rises to 597

The number of those who have died of flu and flu-like illnesses in Ukraine has increased to 597 as of late on Dec. 24, the Ukrainian Health Ministry has reported.

Nineteen people, including one pregnant woman, have died of flu and its complications (pneumonia) over the past 24 hours, the ministry said. The greatest number of flu patients – four people – died in Kharkiv region.

The epidemic threshold was exceeded in 20 regions, Kyiv and Sevastopol.

A relatively favorable epidemic situation is being observed only in Ivano-Frankivsk region.

Since the outbreak of the epidemic, over 3.414 million people have contracted flu and respiratory infections, including 78,685 people over the past 24 hours.

A total of 189,400 people have been hospitalized since the start of the epidemic (October 29). Of those hospitalized, 153,861 people have been discharged from hospitals.

The ministry publishes no separate statistics on cases of A/H1N1 influenza or swine flu.