KYIV, Ukraine -- Health authorities have reported that western Ukraine was struck by a severe outbreak of unidentified influenza, suspected by doctors as a form of viral pneumonia. The disease has already claimed a number of lives in the region. Doctors have urged western Ukrainians to stay at home as much as possible and take preventive medication.

In Lviv, schools have been temporarily closed, and the city council is scheduled to conduct its emergency meeting to deal with the flu outbreak. Panic has started to spread in the city as the information released by health authorities regarding the epidemic remain scarce.