FACTBOX-Measures to fight H1N1 swine flu in Europe

Nov 24 (Reuters) - Here are some details about measures taken to fight the H1N1 swine flu, a mixture of swine, bird and human viruses and which has killed more than 7,860 people globally, according to the latest European Centre for Disease prevention and Control (ECDC) tallies. The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared an H1N1 pandemic on June 11, indicating the first influenza pandemic since 1968 was underway.

* LATEST MEASURES BY GOVERNMENTS:
FRANCE - Almost 240 schools around the country have had to close in an effort to contain particularly virulent outbreaks. -- A recent jump in cases has given a much needed boost to a national vaccination campaign, with queues forming at centres over the weekend as word spread of an increase in deaths. -- When the centres initially opened earlier this month, the French media, said they were largely deserted, with medical staffing having to throw away large numbers of unused vaccinations.

NETHERLANDS - The Netherlands started vaccinating children against the H1N1 on Monday. Some 830,000 children aged from six months up to and including four-year-olds will be vaccinated. -- Babies up to six months old will not be vaccinated because the vaccine has not been tested on babies. About 200,000 members of families with babies younger than six months will be vaccinated instead. -- At 237 different locations across the Netherlands, parents can visit centres of municipal health organisation GGD to have the vaccinations, with most vaccinations taking place this week. A second round of shots will occur in mid-December. -- The vaccination of children comes after the Netherlands started vaccinating risk groups against the virus on Nov. 9.

POLAND - Poland's Health Ministry decided last week to release its Tamiflu stock on to pharmacies. -- Health Minister Ewa Kopacz has said not enough tests have been conducted to make sure flu vaccinations are safe for people and said she was demanding more guarantees from pharmaceutical firms before any possible purchase. -- Several schools have been temporarily closed across the country, but there has been no central recommendation to do so.

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