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Russians Urged to Drown Swine Flu With Whiskey

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 4, 2009 1:46 AM CDT

(Newser) – Russian soccer fans visiting Wales next month for their country's World Cup qualifier have been told to avoid swine flu by guzzling whiskey, Reuters reports. The Russian government has cautioned fans to avoid travel to the UK because of the flu outbreak, but those who proudly defy the warning should "drink a lot of Welsh whiskey as a form of disinfection," said the head of a major Russian fan association. That "should cure all symptoms of the disease," he insisted.

"Russian fans don't fear anything or anybody so this virus will not stand in our way of supporting our team." The advice "is complete and utter nonsense," responded a leading British doctor, suggesting the Russian fans practice proper hand hygiene to minimize the risk of infection. "They are more at risk from depression when they lose the match than from swine flu," he added snidely.

[Images (2)]

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"We urge our fans to drink a lot of Welsh whiskey as a form of disinfection," said the head of a fan club for the Russian soccer team. (Penderyn Distillery)

Russian soccer fans waving Russian flags greet the national soccer team at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

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Health officials say this virus is very dangerous but being a fan myself I can tell you that for a real fan nothing is more important than the well-being of the team. - Alexander Shprygin, head of the supporters association for the Russian soccer team

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