Egypt announces 30 H1N1 deaths since October

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http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/news/egypt-announces-30-h1n1-deaths-october

Egypt announces 30 H1N1 deaths since October

Mon, 20/12/2010 - 11:24

During the week of 12-18 December, 218 cases of the H1N1 virus (commonly known

as swine flu) were reported in Egypt, Ministry of Health officials said on

Sunday.

Since October, thirty Egyptians have died from the virus.

Abdel Rahman Shaheen, the health ministry official spokesperson, said laboratory

results show that this rate of infection is normal.

The total number of registered cases since October is 533, compared to 10,599

cases during the same period last year, according to Shaheen. Between October

and December 2009, 134 deaths were reported.

If infected by H1N1, Shaheen advised, citizens should seek medical

treatment--especially the elderly, children, pregnant women and those suffering

chronic diseases such as diabetes or heart, liver and kidney diseases.

The drug Tamiflu, prescribed for treating the virus, will be provided at health

ministry hospitals for free, according to Shaheen, who added that following

precautionary procedures as well as general and personal sanitation are the best

way to keep the virus at bay.

Translated from the Arabic Edition.