Flu claims 12 lives

According to Russian medical statistics, the death toll of the flu epidemic has reached 12 since January 15, when the epidemic broke out. The victims died of complications after the disease. Among them were 7 children under the age of 14, and two 15-year-old teens. The death toll was the heaviest in the city of Astrakhan, south-eastern Russia, with 4 deaths registered. Moscow and St. Petersburg had 1 death each, RIA Novosti reports. The Federal Influenza Center reports the epidemic has struck 18 cities in Russia. It is over in 10 of them and declining in the other 8.