Twenty-five people have died from swine flu in Ukraine since the start of the flu season, Tetyana Dykhanovska, the director of the state flu center, told Reuters by phone on Thursday, January 14, the news agency reports.

She did not say when exactly the season started.

According to sources, including RFE/RL, the outbreak of the virus has killed more than 50 people.

On Wednesday, Health Minister Alexander Kvitashvili said the flu outbreak was not yet widespread enough to be considered an epidemic.

Armenia also reported a swine flu outbreak which killed 11 people overall.