Armenian public schools and kindergartens have shut down for two weeks amid growing concerns about a possible flu epidemic.

The decision was made during an emergency meeting of health officials on December 7. The government stated that school closures are not necessarily related to the H1N1 virus -- otherwise known as swine flu -- but are a response to an epidemic of seasonal influenza.

Schools have been reporting low attendance, as parents have kept children home from fear that they will contract the H1N1 virus, the Panorama news agency reported on December 7. To date, there have been 35 cases of swine flu in Armenia, including one fatality, the news agency reported.