Over the course of the winter, Ukraine’s health authorities have recorded an increasing number of respiratory infections.
According to Ukraine’s Center for Public Health, the figure rose in late January to 410.6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, an increase of 10.6 percent in a single week.
The level is still described as normal for the season, but the trend is worrying for health professionals.
When everyday life breaks down
According to reporting by The Kyiv Independent, the increase is linked to repeated attacks on Ukraine’s energy and heating systems.
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Since December, Russian attacks have on several occasions disrupted the heat supply in Kyiv, leaving thousands of apartment blocks without heating during periods of severe frost.
When electricity and heating disappear, other aspects of daily life are also affected.
Water supplies become unstable, and refrigerators fail to maintain the necessary temperature.
Doctor Hanna Serova from the private healthcare network Dobrobut says she is seeing more cases of food poisoning as a result of power outages.
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The body’s resilience
Hanna Serova explains that cold in itself does not make people ill.
According to her, problems arise when the body spends prolonged periods using energy to stay warm, while sleep and daily routines are disrupted. Stress also plays a role.
Together, these factors can weaken the immune system and make it easier for viruses to take hold, even among vaccinated people.
According to the Center for Public Health, influenza viruses are circulating in 19 regions and in Kyiv, and deaths related to influenza and pneumonia have been reported.
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A gradual strain
Hanna Serova emphasizes that the difference between short-term cold and weeks without stable heating is crucial.
Older people, those with chronic illnesses, pregnant women, and people with disabilities are particularly vulnerable, especially when power outages prevent the use of medical equipment.
Sources: The Kyiv Independent.
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