Post by Paddy by Grace on Apr 28, 2009 16:42:58 GMT -7
Authorities fear third and fourth cases of swine flu in Israel
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1081774.html
Israeli health authorities fear that a third case of swine flu may have been discovered.
The 5-year-old niece of Tomer Vagim, 26, who was diagnosed with the new strain earlier Tuesday, was undergoing tests to determine whether she too had contracted the virus.
Vagim had recently returned from Mexico and was diagnosed with the virus after two days of quarantine at the Laniado Hospital in Netanya.
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Laniado medical director Dr. Avinoam Skolnik said Health Ministry laboratory tests confirmed swine flu, but could not say whether the strain is the same one that appeared in Mexico.
The patient was listed in "excellent" condition, but the Health Ministry said he was to remain in hospital for observation.
A 47-year-old man who had returned from Mexico on Monday was officially diagnosed with the strain on Tuesday, making him the second confirmed victim in Israel.
The patient, a resident of Tzoran, had complained of throat pain, headaches and fever upon his return from Mexico. He was also quarantined at the Meir hospital in Kfar Sava, and his condition is not serious.
A possible fourth victim is a 9-year-old boy who was on El Al flight 026 from Newark, which landed in Israel two days ago carrying the second confirmed swine flu patient. The boy has been hospitalized in the children's hospital Dana in Tel Aviv after coming down with flu symptoms. Blood samples will be delivered to the World Health Organization to determine whether he had contracted the virus.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an emergency meeting for Tuesday evening on how to handle the swine flu situation. The aim of the meeting, to be attended by Health Ministry and Defense Ministry representatives, is to decide whether to charge the national emergency authority of the Defense Ministry with the responsibility over the possible crisis.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak has already instructed the ministry's director and other senior officials to prepare to take over the handling of the issue. However, the professional and health aspects of the disease will be handled by the Health Ministry.
World health officials, racing to extinguish the new flu strain that is jumping borders, raised a global alert to an unprecedented level as the outbreak claimed more lives in Mexico. The U.S. prepared for the worst even as President Barack Obama tried to reassure Americans.
So far, 152 people have died, 20 of them confirmed swine flu deaths, and the remainder suspected, all in Mexico.
With the swine flu having already spread to at least four other countries, authorities around the globe are like firefighters battling a blaze without knowing how far it extends.
At this time, containment is not a feasible option, said Keiji Fukuda, assistant director-general of the World Health Organization, which raised its alert level on Monday.
The Health Ministry said Monday that it had embraced the recommendation of the European Commission to postpone nonessential travel to Mexico and recommends that travelers be alert to reports regarding other countries.
The ministry also issued a list of guidelines, recommending that the public take some basic steps to avoid contracting the virus. These guidelines include washing hands with soap and water and maintaining basic hygiene before and while handling food, after going to the bathroom and after sneezing or coughing.
In case of sneezing, the health ministry recommends that a disposable tissue be used, and not the hand, and if one is not handy, the ministry recommends using the elbow rather than the hand to cover the nose and mouth.
Furthermore, the ministry recommends staying home from work or school and avoiding public places if one feels sick. The ministry also recommends avoiding physical contact with others displaying symptoms.
The ministry did recommend that such travelers seek medical assistance if they develop flu-like symptoms within seven days after their return. These individuals would be quarantined at local hospitals until their condition is determined.
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1081774.html
Israeli health authorities fear that a third case of swine flu may have been discovered.
The 5-year-old niece of Tomer Vagim, 26, who was diagnosed with the new strain earlier Tuesday, was undergoing tests to determine whether she too had contracted the virus.
Vagim had recently returned from Mexico and was diagnosed with the virus after two days of quarantine at the Laniado Hospital in Netanya.
Advertisement
Laniado medical director Dr. Avinoam Skolnik said Health Ministry laboratory tests confirmed swine flu, but could not say whether the strain is the same one that appeared in Mexico.
The patient was listed in "excellent" condition, but the Health Ministry said he was to remain in hospital for observation.
A 47-year-old man who had returned from Mexico on Monday was officially diagnosed with the strain on Tuesday, making him the second confirmed victim in Israel.
The patient, a resident of Tzoran, had complained of throat pain, headaches and fever upon his return from Mexico. He was also quarantined at the Meir hospital in Kfar Sava, and his condition is not serious.
A possible fourth victim is a 9-year-old boy who was on El Al flight 026 from Newark, which landed in Israel two days ago carrying the second confirmed swine flu patient. The boy has been hospitalized in the children's hospital Dana in Tel Aviv after coming down with flu symptoms. Blood samples will be delivered to the World Health Organization to determine whether he had contracted the virus.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an emergency meeting for Tuesday evening on how to handle the swine flu situation. The aim of the meeting, to be attended by Health Ministry and Defense Ministry representatives, is to decide whether to charge the national emergency authority of the Defense Ministry with the responsibility over the possible crisis.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak has already instructed the ministry's director and other senior officials to prepare to take over the handling of the issue. However, the professional and health aspects of the disease will be handled by the Health Ministry.
World health officials, racing to extinguish the new flu strain that is jumping borders, raised a global alert to an unprecedented level as the outbreak claimed more lives in Mexico. The U.S. prepared for the worst even as President Barack Obama tried to reassure Americans.
So far, 152 people have died, 20 of them confirmed swine flu deaths, and the remainder suspected, all in Mexico.
With the swine flu having already spread to at least four other countries, authorities around the globe are like firefighters battling a blaze without knowing how far it extends.
At this time, containment is not a feasible option, said Keiji Fukuda, assistant director-general of the World Health Organization, which raised its alert level on Monday.
The Health Ministry said Monday that it had embraced the recommendation of the European Commission to postpone nonessential travel to Mexico and recommends that travelers be alert to reports regarding other countries.
The ministry also issued a list of guidelines, recommending that the public take some basic steps to avoid contracting the virus. These guidelines include washing hands with soap and water and maintaining basic hygiene before and while handling food, after going to the bathroom and after sneezing or coughing.
In case of sneezing, the health ministry recommends that a disposable tissue be used, and not the hand, and if one is not handy, the ministry recommends using the elbow rather than the hand to cover the nose and mouth.
Furthermore, the ministry recommends staying home from work or school and avoiding public places if one feels sick. The ministry also recommends avoiding physical contact with others displaying symptoms.
The ministry did recommend that such travelers seek medical assistance if they develop flu-like symptoms within seven days after their return. These individuals would be quarantined at local hospitals until their condition is determined.