04/11/2009 (Agence Europe) - Austria, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary have offered Ukraine logistical and medical support to help the country tackle the flu epidemic A(H1N1)v. According to the European Commission for Health, Austria proposed, by way of a civil defence mechanism, to provide 464,640 protection masks, 1000 hand disinfectant bottles, 1000 surface area disinfectant bottles, 1000 skin disinfectant bottles and several thousand pairs of protection gloves. This aid was accepted by Ukraine and discussions are taking place on how to transport the assistance, indicated Nina Papadoulaki. Slovakia has also sent 200,000 respirators, Hungary intends to send 10,000 vaccine doses and Poland is examining what aid it can provide. Ukraine launched a vast appeal for aid due to a rapid progression in the disease. More than 250,000 cases of flu have been registered, mainly the A(H1N1) virus, according to the WHO. The level is particularly high in the regions of Kiev and Lviv. Seventy-one people have died after suffering severe respiratory infections. (O.J. /transl.rh)