Swine flu spreads through the Baltics

VILNIUS - Lithuania has declared the A H1N1 virus, commonly known as swince flu, an epidemic as deaths from the disease begin to mount in the Baltic states.

So far Lithuania has reported two deaths from the disease, while Estonia has also recently registered its first death. Two people passed away from complications surrounding the swine flu virus on Nov. 25 in Riga, bringing the total number of deaths in that country to three.

All three countries have been struggling to secure enough of the vaccine to treat the general population.

The Lithuanian government declared the flu a pandemic at a Nov. 24 news conference, announcing that about 1 percent of the population is now infected.

Alfa.lt reported that all hospitals in the country are now under quarantine with no visitors allowed.

The government has recommended cancelling public events adn closing schools until the spread of the flu begins to slow down. Many public sector workers in the country are being provided with protective gear, including masks and gloves.