travelling to ukraine, advice please

[motherlovebone]

we are meant to be travelling to ukraine on friday.
am i mad to consider it?
i have a 6 & 1 year old who would be coming with me.
we would be headed to Lviv, where it all started apparently.
dont know whether to cancel or not.
we wont be able to do it again until next winter, DS grandparents would be meeting him for the first time.
anyone?

Are your relatives able to give you a more accurate picture of what is going on than what we read here? I wouldn't be happy about going personally but it is hard to judge without more info.

The more I read on the situation, the more I think that it is being overblown for political purposes with election campaigning starting.
bbc report

I don't know if the WHO update will help or hinder you. I've hesitated posting the link, but I think you'd rather have the latest info rather than platitudes.

If I were you, I'd print that off, and make an urgent appt to speak to your gp to talk over whether a prophylactic course of tamiflu to take would be appropriate. i don't know, I'm not a medic.

Do note the last paragraph though, WHO are not recommending travel restrictions and this may still be no different to cases around the world.

Thanks for your replies.

Relatives do say it is political, that at this time of year deaths do start (first snowfall/cold snap) im just a bit concerned that if we did fall ill we would have to miss our flight home.

I called the docs, they said that they need their quota of medicine for genuine cases.

We have decided against going, though if things settle we can easily revert to plan A, otherwise i can probably go just me and baby in the new year for a few days.

Effing inconvenient.

Oh dear. I think you've made the right decision, though. When it comes down to it, the main thing is if you did get it while in Ukraine and had any complications, you'd be relying on a healthcare system that's struggling to cope.

What a shame for you. I think I would have made the same decision cos of them closing schools and restricting some gatherings. Whatever the reason for that it could be a bit complicated over there.

I think you've made the right decision. If you can't take your own Tamiflu or guarantee getting it there, or other medical care as you'd be visitors, then best to stay away for now.

Anyone reading this post now should know that the situation has changed dramatically since these posts. In the West you hardly know about the war. The medical care is being overhauled. One thing people should know about medical care is that there are tons of beds and doctors but not enough supplies. So if you are happy to pay a little to buy supplies from the hospital pharmacy (less than £10 in nearly every case) then you can get some of the fastest care in the least crowded hospitals in the world. The medical supplies (like bandages, syringes, gloves, medicines etc) are sold at a very low cost and usually come from Europe. You can usually find English speaking surgeons and doctors but the locals will surely help you as a translator - Ukrainians love to practice their English (which they learn in school). Medical care is nearly free (just consider to give a tip as the staff do not get well paid)

If you learn the cryllic alphabet you will have no trouble.

There are some regions like Donesk to which you should not travel (see gov.uk for travel advice), but Ukrainians are very honest and the west is very safe - in ways that you may not expect. It feels fine to walk around very late - women walk alone a lot which isn't true of London. People don't rip you off or scam you like they do in Thailand, Vietnam, Turkey and even some countries in the EU.

Just as an update!