KIEV, November 1 (RIA Novosti) - Swine flu has been the cause of 39 deaths in Ukraine while over 150,000 people are believed to have been infected with the virus, the Ukrainian Health Ministry said on its website.

The A/H1N1 virus, known as the swine flu, originated in the Tirnopol Region in western Ukraine and is believed to have spread to the neighboring Ivano-Frankovsk, Lvov and some other regions.

As of October 31, 14 people died from swine flu in the Lvov region, 13 in the Tirnopol region, six in the Ivano-Frankovsk region, three in the Chernovtsy region, two in the Rovno region and one person in the Volyn region, the ministry's website said.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said on Saturday that 48 people had died of the virus.

The Ukrainian government has ordered to shut down schools and cinemas in the country in an effort to stop the spread of the epidemic and has already channeled $12.5 million into the purchase of anti-swine flu medicines and medical equipment.