World fights A/H1N1 flu pandemic

With the A/H1N1 flu spreading rapidly, fighting the virus has become the world's focus.

Afghan health officials declare a health state of emergency in the country following the first death of one Afghan citizen from H1N1 Wednesday.

A 35-year-old Afghan engineer was infected with the virus two weeks ago along with 3 other family members.

Authorities order the closure of all schools and universities for three weeks.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko on Sunday welcomed the arrival of a shipment of flu vaccine to Kiev.

Yulia Tymoshenko said, "A large shipment of the most needed medicines to treat those people who caught the flu has been delivered."

President Viktor Yuschenko says 48 people died of the flu in the ex-Soviet nation and tens of thousands had been infected.

Schools are closed and public meetings are banned for three weeks.

Russia confirmed 25-thousand A/H1N1 flu cases. The death toll stands at five. The country spent nearly 14 million US dollars to mass produce the A/H1N1 flu vaccine. The vaccination program begins in December.

Turkey's Health Ministry says nearly 350 thousand health personnel will begin receiving vaccinations. One and a half thousand people in Turkey tested positive for A/H1N1 flu, with 8 deaths.

Five drug companies in the US are increasing production of the flu vaccine with 10 million more doses expected next week. 26.6 million doses had been produced by Friday, far below earlier estimates of 40 million by the end of October.

In South Korea, 40 people have died. A meeting is to be held Wednesday to decide whether to issue a red alert in the country.