Slovakia Closes Border with Ukraine to Contain Flu

Bratislava, November 2, 2009 -- The pedestrian crossing between Slovakia and Ukraine will be closed starting Tuesday as stated by the Slovakian Interior Minister Robert Kalinak on Monday.

The border in Velke Slemence and Ubla will be closed in response to the epidemic in Ukraine. Health check-points will remain open.

At least 67 people were reported dead in Ukraine as a result from the epidemic. From this number, a third part has been reported to swine flu.

Around a quarter million people have been infected with the epidemic.

Slovaks were warned to not travel to Ukraine without serious reasons.

The Czech Minister of Interio Martin Pecina stated that his country is willing to assist Ukraine with five million Czech crowns (300,000 U.S. dollars) to fight the epidemic.

Jan Fischer, head of Czech government, stated that the situation is probably not as critical as media report so the assistance will not be provided immediately.