In the Irkutsk region, sanitary control was tightened because of a swine flu outbreak. Rosselkhoznadzor restricted imports of meat products from several American countries, and passengers are being thoroughly checked at the border and airports. The ban covers not only commercial shipments but also meat in hand luggage, which will be destroyed if found. Authorities say there are enough disinfectants and protective equipment, and for prevention they advise hygiene and more frequent ventilation.

On April 26 of this year, the Rosselkhoznadzor administration signed a decree restricting the import of meat products into the territory of the Russian Federation from a number of American countries.
The reason was an outbreak of swine flu. As the press secretary of the Rosselkhoznadzor administration for the Irkutsk Region, Lyudmila Soldatova, said, meat had previously been supplied to the Angara region from 30 countries around the world. Now the list of banned importers includes nine U.S. states, Cuba, El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. Meat products from Brazil continue to reach the region’s shelves. “No outbreaks of the disease have been registered in this country. There is no cause for panic,” Lyudmila Soldatova reassured. The ban applies not only to the import of industrially produced goods, but also to hand luggage containing meat. Passengers are being thoroughly checked at airports. If such products are found, they will be destroyed under safe conditions.
The deputy head of the Rospotrebnadzor administration for the Irkutsk Region, Lyubov Nursoyanova, said that enhanced sanitary control has been introduced in the Angara region. Sanitary and quarantine checkpoints are operating continuously at the airports of Bratsk and Irkutsk; passengers are interviewed at border crossing points, and if necessary, their temperature is measured. All checkpoints are equipped with non-contact thermometers. All staff at the sanitary control points have been instructed.
Every day, five to six flights arrive in the Irkutsk Region from abroad. Mostly from Asian countries. Another about one thousand people return weekly from trips abroad and from vacations. Special attention is being paid to citizens arriving from America.
Lyubov Nursoyanova noted that the region currently has a sufficient supply of disinfectants and personal protective equipment. People suspected of having the disease will be isolated, and samples will be sent for testing to the Center for Virology and Epidemiology in Novosibirsk. In the event of a mass spread of the disease, some regional hospitals will be repurposed as infectious disease hospitals.
“The H1N1 influenza virus is poorly sensitive to previously used antiviral drugs. Ordinary annual vaccinations provide weak protection against it. As a preventive measure, we recommend observing personal hygiene rules and ventilating rooms more often,” Lyubov Nursoyanova advised.