KIEV, November 8 (RIA Novosti) - The death toll from the flu outbreak in Ukraine has risen to 144 cases, the country's Health Ministry reported on Sunday.

According to the ministry, 15 regions in the ex-Soviet republic had already crossed the flu epidemic threshold while 11 provinces were close to it.

The Ukrainian government imposed quarantine in nine western provinces in late October in an attempt to curb the spread of flu. All education establishments in Kiev were closed, and people were obliged to wear medical masks in all catering establishments, shops and social services facilities across the former Soviet republic.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko earlier requested help from other countries over the outbreak of flu.

The Ukrainian Health Ministry said on Monday 255,000 flu cases had been registered in the country, with some 15,000 people receiving treatment in hospital.

The Health Ministry has confirmed the death of 14 people from swine flu and 32 swine flu cases in the country.

The Ukrainian parliament has approved the allocation of 1 billion hryvnias ($125 million) on measures to fight swine and seasonal flu.