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The number of those who have died of flu and flu-like illnesses in Ukraine has increased to 698 as of late on Dec. 30. The number of those who have died of flu and flu-like illnesses in Ukraine has increased to 698 as of late on Dec. 30, the Ukrainian Health Ministry has reported.

Eighteen people, including a pregnant woman, have died of flu and its complications (pneumonia) over the past 24 hours, the ministry said. The greatest number of people died in Donetsk region (five people)

According to the ministry, the epidemic threshold was exceeded in 18 regions, Crimea and Kyiv. A relatively favorable epidemic situation is being observed in Ivano-Frankivsk and Kherson regions.

Since the outbreak of the epidemic (October 29), over 3.722 million people have contracted flu and respiratory infections, including 52,563 people over the past 24 hours.

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