The Board of Trustees of Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) will elect Chairman and deputy chairperson during the sitting today. The chairman will be elected with 3-year-term with majority of votes. General regulations will be determined and approved before the balloting process. 

Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili talked about Hepatitis C elimination program during the governmental sitting. He said that the disease would have been defeated by 2020. The national strategy of Hepatitis C for 2016-2020 was also approved during the sitting. 

Georgian Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs claims that no new cases of Hepatitis C will be detected in the country after 5 years. A symposium is being held at Radisson Blu Iveria Hotel about treatment and elimination of Hepatitis C in Georgia. Specialists are summarizing results of 1-year work. About 27 thousand people were registered within the framework of first stage of state program. The 9 thousand patients underwent through treatment. 

Bidzina Ivanishvili, former Prime Minister is meeting with representatives of Georgian print media and news agencies.The meeting is being held at Technological Park. Law week, Ivanishvili met with journalists representing national and regional TV Companies.  

Davit Sergeenko, Georgian Minister of Labor, Health and Social Affairs will present the annual 2015 report during the sitting of Healthcare Committee in the parliament. Sergeenko will focus on overall healthcare insurance and C Hepatitis Elimination programs in the report. 

The cases of Gastro-Intestinal Infections are increasing in Akhaltsikhe town of southern Georgia. The majority of patients are children aged 3-6. Laboratory analysis samples are taken to determine causes of the infection and being studied in Tbilisi. 

Sixteen people died of virus infections in Georgia this winter season – 15 from H1N1 virus, one – H3N2, National Diseases Control Center published the latest data. The number of people infected with flu virus decreases gradually. The last fatal case was reported in Batumi city, Adjara region. 

The H1N1 virus has claimed the life of the sixth person in Georgia’s western Adjara region.According to Adjara’s Social Healthcare Center, a 37-year-old woman felt bad on January 18 and addressed hospital after ten days, on January 28. She was treated at the Medina clinic, but died this morning.  

Davit Sergeenko, Georgia’s Minister of Labor, Health and Social Affairs claims that the pace of flu virus spreading as well as visits to doctors has decreased throughout Georgia. According to Health Minister, Education Ministry fulfills recommendations issued by the Ministry of Health. ‘Fortunately, it means that the pace will further decrease in the nearest future,’ Sergeenko said.Sergeenko says each death case is a real tragedy but there is no reason for panic. Seven people died due to H1N1 and 1 has died due to H3N2 flu virus. 

The study process has been restored at all public schools and kindergartens across Georgia as of today. The Ministry of Education and Science has made the regarding decision.  The study process was suspended for 3 days at 220 public schools across Georgia due to the increase of virus infections among children, at 62 schools due to inclement weather.

The study process will be suspended for at least 3 days at 195 public schools across Georgia starting today. The increase of virus infections among children is said to have served as the reason of the decision made by Ministry of Education and Science based on the recommendation of National Diseases Control Center. Based on the date of Diseases Control Center, there are 332 cases of H1N1 virus detected among every 100 thousand people. The Center recommends the population to apply to medical institutions as soon as the virus symptoms are revealed. 

The Arkansas Department of Health has just confirmed a resident has tested positive for Zika Virus. Another case was confirmed in Virginia, according to the Associated Press.The US Centers for Disease and Control Prevention (CDC) told the department late yesterday afternoon that the infected Arkansas resident recently traveled out of the country and had “a mild case of Zika.”In Virginia, the state health department said an individual who was recently overseas also contracted the virus, AP reported. Others are not at risk from this unidentified person, officials said, due to the lack of mosquitoes in the winter months.Still, the state cautioned travelers who may want to escape cold temperatures for warmer climates to check travel alerts before leaving the country.Meanwhile, the CDC said it was adding the US Virgin Islands and the Dominican Republic to its Zika virus travel alerts, according to Reuters.Originally discovered in Africa in the 1940s, the relatively-new disease first appeared in Brazil in May 2005. According to the Arkansas health department's statement, the virus has since spread to at least 20 countries in Central and South America and the Caribbean.

Quarantine is declared at educational institutions across the occupied region of Abkhazia due to spread of flu virus. Restrictions at kindergartens, schools and universities as well as public places and sports halls will continue till February 15. De facto Abkhazian government does not admit that the situation is difficult. There is no exact date about number of patients infected. Locals apply to elf-medication method. 

The number of patients infected with H1N1 virus has decreased at medical institutions. The doctor on duty at Republican Hospital says that there are 4 patients placed at hospital. About 500 patients underwent medical treatment during the winter season. Doctors recommend the population to apply to medical institutions as soon as the virus symptoms are detected. 

Only one case of H1N1 virus among children has been detected for the time being at kindergartens. Preventive measures are undertaken. Study rooms are disinfected with special liquid. Recommendations are given to teachers are parents. 

Soldiers of the 4th Mechanized Brigade of the Georgian Armed Forces are taking Hepatitis C examination free of charge. If needed, the soldiers will undergo medication. Examination is being held at a specially arranged laboratory.  

Seven laboratory confirmed cases of H1N1 virus were revealed last week in Georgia, Paata Imnadze, Head of National Diseases and Control Center informed. Specialists expect increase of the virus cases at the end of February. The Center recommends people for washing their and often and staying at home if virus detected. 

Processed meats - such as bacon, sausages and ham - do cause cancer, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).Its report said 50g of processed meat a day - less than two slices of bacon - increased the chance of developing colorectal cancer by 18%. Meanwhile, it said red meats were "probably carcinogenic" but there was limited evidence.The WHO did stress that meat also had health benefits. Cancer Research UK said this was a reason to cut down rather than give up red and processed meats. And added that an occasional bacon sandwich would do little harm.Processed meat has been modified to either extend its shelf life or change the taste and the main methods are smoking, curing, or adding salt or preservatives.Simply putting beef through a mincer does not mean the resulting mince is "processed" unless it is modified further.Processed meat includes bacon, sausages, hot dogs, salami, corned beef, beef jerky and ham as well as canned meat and meat-based sauces, BBC reports.

Starting 2017, medication of Tuberculosis may become obligatory. The Georgian parliament will begin discussions about the corresponding draft-project in the nearest future. The initiative is already registered in the supreme legislative body. Members of the parliamentary healthcare committee say that the initiative aims at protection of citizens. Those patients, who refuse to undergo medical treatment, will be isolated based on a decision of court. 

The second stage of Hepatitis C Program will begin in October. The agreement for treatment of 20 thousand patients will be signed and the medicines will be imported. Davit Sergeenko, Georgian Minister of Labor, Health and Social Affairs said that there were no impediments in implementation of the program.