Prime Minister Donald Tusk has urged the European Commission for more help for Ukraine to fight off a possibly grave flu epidemic throughout the continent.

Donald Tusk has written letters to European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt of Sweden, currently leading the EU presidency.

"The nature of this threat requires, in my view, urgent action at the European Union level, which will be in the interests of both Ukraine and the EU itself,” writes PM Tusk.

A flu-like illness has killed 67 people and infected 255,000 in the last week, with many suffering acute repertory problems as symptoms. Over 20 patients have tested positive for swine flu. The World Health Organisation sent a team to Ukraine, Monday, to investigate the outbreak of the virus or viruses.

According to Prime Minister Tusk, aid that Poland has already actioned for Ukraine could form the basis Poland's support for a broader EU support plan.

In the letters, Donald Tusk also proposes the convening of an extraordinary meeting of the EU’s Council for Employment, Health and Consumer Affairs on the flu situation in Europe and the scope of possible support for Ukraine.

The problem of availability of anti-flu vaccines is of especial concern for Poland’s prime minister.  

"It would be appropriate to discuss the problem of the availability of vaccines for non-risk groups," he wrote in his letters to EU leaders. (pg)