Alla, 25, a charity fund employee, told a RIA Novosti correspondent she was motivated by the need to help people.

'Our fund works with children, and I have my beliefs,' she said.

A 19-year-old physics student, Nastya, said she was mostly motivated by the reward, but also said she would dedicate her thesis to the issue.

Eduard, 48, who also volunteered for research at the same institute in the mid-1990s, returned.

'If I can help society and earn some money at the same time, why not?' he told RIA Novosti.

As of Aug 26, a total of 211 people have been diagnosed with swine flu in Russia.

There have been no reported deaths, while more than 3,200 people have died from swine flu worldwide, according to WHO data from last week.