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H1N1 H1N1 H1N1 H1N1 H1N1 H1N1

H1N1 H1N1 H1N1 H1N1

H1N1 H1N1 H1N1 H1N1

H1N1 H1N1 H1N1 H1N1 H1N1

H1N1 H1N1 H1N1

H1N1 H1N1 H1N1 H1N1

H1N1 H1N1

Coverage of swine flu in Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan,

Turkmenistan, Tajikistan)

Analysis of publications on-line only

Uzbekistan took 31st place and Tajikistan is 37th in the top 38 of the most unstable countries in the world, according to report. The situation in Tajikistan deteriorated. Last year it was ranked 38th and was not included to the list of failed states.

Kyrgyzstan’s position this year is better. It was 39th in 2008. Despite many human rights violations in the country, the experts considered that the situation was improved.

In fact, Uzbekistan’s rank has improved, from rank 28, to 31 over the past year. So has Turkmenistan (59th) and Kazakhstan (105th).

Two Central Asian states Uzbekistan and Tajikistan have been admitted as “failed states” by Fund for Peace which have published their Failed States Index for 2009.

Swine flu outbreakSwine flu outbreak

Kazakhstan – July 2009 (17 cases) Kyrgyzstan – August 2009 (78 cases) Uzbekistan – December 2009 (???) > According to

international media, only in one hospital 7 people died from swine flu in November 2009

Turkmenistan – November 2009 (???) > No data available

Tajikistan – December 2009 (8 cases)

No fatal cases , according to the official dataNo fatal cases , according to the official data

All the data is as for December 2009All the data is as for December 2009

Media coverage of swine flu in Media coverage of swine flu in KazakhstanKazakhstan

Quantitative analysisQuantitative analysis

Media coverage developmentsMedia coverage developments

Content analysisContent analysis

Articles; 16

Articles; 12

International media Local media

Quantitative analysisQuantitative analysis

Media coverage developments

20 1

17

0 0 1

4 3

0 0-202468

1012141618

Content analysisContent analysis

Main newsMain news Preparation works (May, June)Preparation works (May, June) Outbreak. 13 cases reported (July)Outbreak. 13 cases reported (July) No infected people; Pilgrimage (November)No infected people; Pilgrimage (November) Vaccine (December)Vaccine (December)

KyrgyzstanKyrgyzstan

Quantitative analysis

Articles; 9

Articles; 14

International media Local media

Media coverage developments

0 0 0 13

0 0

17

20 0

-202468

1012141618

Quantitative analysis

Articles; 9

Articles; 14

International media Local media

Media coverage developments

0 0 0 13

0 0

17

20 0

-202468

1012141618

KyrgyzstanKyrgyzstan

outbreak in Augustoutbreak in August peak of swine flu in November (Panic and peak of swine flu in November (Panic and

hysteria among population + masks, drug’s hysteria among population + masks, drug’s speculation, outbreak of severe seasonal flu, speculation, outbreak of severe seasonal flu, schools closed for quarantine)schools closed for quarantine)

decline of decease in Decemberdecline of decease in December

Content analysisContent analysis

Case of UzbekistanCase of Uzbekistan

The one of the most repressive state in The one of the most repressive state in the world!!! The best illustration of this is the world!!! The best illustration of this is Andijan massacre.Andijan massacre.

The Andijan massacre occurred when Uzbek Interior Ministry andNational Security Service troops fired into a crowd of protesters inAndijan, Uzbekistan on 13 May 2005. Estimates of those killed on13 May range from between 187, the official count of the government, and 5,000 people, with most outside reportsestimating several hundred dead. A defector from Uzbekistan'ssecret service alleged that 1,500 were killed. The bodies of manyof those who died were allegedly hidden in mass graves followingthe massacre.

Swine flu:Swine flu:

Publications in the foreign media - Publications in the foreign media - 44 Local media - Local media - 11 > Uzbek authorities’ policy > Uzbek authorities’ policy

towards swine flu is that there is no swine flu towards swine flu is that there is no swine flu in Uzbekistanin Uzbekistan

Total - only Total - only 55 articles > no data available for articles > no data available for foreign mediaforeign media

2 publications in May - general information about 2 publications in May - general information about swine flu in the world. General tone of swine flu in the world. General tone of publications is to calm dawn peoplepublications is to calm dawn people

2 articles in November - 7 people died only in one 2 articles in November - 7 people died only in one small clinic. No word from local media...small clinic. No word from local media...

1 publication about at least 400 people died from 1 publication about at least 400 people died from swine flu. No reaction in the local media...swine flu. No reaction in the local media...

Case of Turkmenistan President for Life - Turkmenbashy (about 20 years of President for Life - Turkmenbashy (about 20 years of

dictatorship 1985-2006)dictatorship 1985-2006) According to the 2009 Reporters Without Borders According to the 2009 Reporters Without Borders

World Press Freedom Index, Turkmenistan had the World Press Freedom Index, Turkmenistan had the third-worst restrictions on the freedom of the press in third-worst restrictions on the freedom of the press in the world after North Korea. the world after North Korea.

No international mediaNo international media No satellite TVNo satellite TV InternetInternet censorship censorship Media censorshipMedia censorship

No data available to confirm fatal cases and No data available to confirm fatal cases and number of infected peoplenumber of infected people

Pilgrimage banPilgrimage ban Panic and hysteria among populationPanic and hysteria among population Drug’s speculationDrug’s speculation

Media coverage: Media coverage: Total - 5 publicationsTotal - 5 publicationsInternational media onlyInternational media only

Main news in November:Main news in November: 2 people died2 people died

Analysis of Tajikistan media coverageAnalysis of Tajikistan media coverage

Total - 5 articles

2 international publications

3 local publications Stories:

- Preparation (May 2009)

- First suspicion of swine flu (December 2009)

- Tamiflu and vaccine (February 2009)

• Irin and Centrasia.ru : Central Asian states are preparing themselves to combat swine flu (September 2009)

Eurasianet.org: Swine flu in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Recent developments (November 2009)

IWPR.net: Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan pilgrimes have no fear of swine flu

3 publications by international media 3 publications by international media about swine flu in Central Asia:about swine flu in Central Asia:

Comparative analysis

12

16

9

14

4

1

5

0

23

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

Publications

Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Uzbekistan Turkmenistan Tajikistan

International Local

Conclusions:Conclusions:

Media coverage of swine flu in Central Asia:Media coverage of swine flu in Central Asia: irregular demonstrated little preparedness of governments to

combat the decease partisan one-sided (no angles, no pluralism) restricted by governments’ propaganda teams absence of any critical views general tone of publications is to combat panic and

hysteria among people