The deadly swine flu has caused deaths in Russia and other former Soviet republics.

Health officials in Russia's second-largest city, St. Petersburg, said on January 19 that five local residents died of the H1N1 virus, known as swine flu, adding that more than 310 individuals had been hospitalized with symptoms of the disease.

Anna Popova, the chairwoman of the Russian consumer protection agency Rospotrebnadzor, said on January 19 that scores of H1N1 patients have been hospitalized in Russia's 17 regions since January 1.

Several other reports of deaths in Russia due to swine flu have also been reported.

The Ukrainian Health Ministry confirmed on January 19 that H1N1 has killed 51 people, while Armenian officials said on January 18 that 16 people died of the virus in recent weeks.

Kazakh officials reported the country's first H1N1 death on January 19.

Based on reporting by AFP, Interfax, TASS, KazTAG, and RFE/RL's Armenian, Kazakh, and Russian services

