March 7, 2010

Since Wednesday, March 3rd, a temporary quarantine regime has been implemented in certain neighborhoods of Baganuur, a satellite city-district located approximately 130 km from Ulaanbaatar, due to an unusually high number of acute respiratory illness cases reported, primarily among young children infected with seasonal influenza.

Five kindergartens have been closed until mid-March. Additionally, several classes at the central public secondary school have been asked to remain home, while older students are permitted to continue attending school.

All public gatherings and cultural and sporting activities have been prohibited in the district, which has also led to the closure of recreation centers, table tennis halls, and billiard rooms.

"In Baganuur District, we have noted a sharp increase in flu cases since February 19th. We are taking all necessary measures to stop the spread of the disease. Flu and related illnesses represent more than 90% of ambulance calls and more than 70% of all hospital visitors. Furthermore, school attendance at primary and kindergarten levels has dropped below 60%," declared Ts. Sandag-Ochir, governor of Baganuur District.

Hundreds of children under five years old have been hospitalized. However, while no seasonal influenza deaths have been reported, respiratory tract disease can, according to health authorities, rapidly develop into pneumonia.

Ulaanbaatar's hospitals, particularly two in the Sukhbaatar and Bayanzurkh districts, were also overwhelmed last month due to a dramatic surge in flu cases. These district hospitals faced severe bed shortages to accommodate the influx of patients. Some hospitals even requested military supply companies last week to provide necessary beds, so that children could receive medical care in corridors. Additionally, dozens of students from the University of Medical Sciences have volunteered in hospitals to assist flu patients.

Charlène Nomadays

SEO copywriter from Nomadays' earliest days, Charlène evolved into content manager and head of communications, accompanying the adventure from its inception with passion and loyalty. After living seven years across Asia—from China to Thailand, passing through Mongolia and South Korea—she has made travel a way of being in the world. A lover of words, nature, and human connection, she is committed to conveying in her writing a sensitive, engaged, and responsible vision of tourism. For her, each article is a bridge between curiosity, respect, and wonder.