A second Egyptian dies from swine flu while Syria, Iraq and Yemen are experiencing tension of their own, reads Doaa El-Bey The death of a second swine flu patient, the closure of two schools in Alexandria and the relative ease with which the disease is spreading raised government concern. Al-Masry Al-Yom wrote in its front page that swine flu might empty Egypt's soccer stadiums if cases increase. The editorial in the official daily Al-Ahram wrote that the Jordanian government's closure of two schools raised fear of starting the new academic year scheduled for 26 September in light of the continuous spread of the disease. Although a plan adopted by the ministries of health and education to fight the disease in schools was criticised as being too strict, the edit stated that it achieved noticeable success. But the real test of the plan would be after the start of the new academic year and the advent of winter. The government should ease overcrowded classes and raise awareness about the disease among students, in addition to providing quick health care if cases are discovered in school. "Statistics prove that the rate of recovery from swine flu is very high given that measures are being taken to prevent infection and the disease is discovered early." And that is what the joint plans between the ministries of health and education aim for at the start of the new academic year. We should all cooperate to make this plan a success," the edit said. Ziad El-Sahhar considered the present growing concern and ongoing dialogue about swine flu a healthy phenomenon and that, if accompanied by hard work and planning, could overcome the crisis. However, the real challenge will come when schools start, when pilgrims return from the omra, or minor pilgrimage, and more importantly, from the hajj, or pilgrimage, which will be in winter when the virus becomes more active. Nevertheless, El-Sahhar added, although we realise the possibility of a rise in infection, that does not mean we give up and stop our life by closing schools and universities, disabling public means of transportation and postponing interaction with public and private companies. An emotional response of that kind would increase the severity of the problem and create other problems that will be added to our present difficult social and economic conditions. Instead, the ministers of health and education adopted a rather rational approach: the health minister was very frank with the public and education minister decided to open schools on time. El-Sahhar considered this the right start to deal with the disease. In light of this rational approach, El-Sahhar reckoned that the efforts and exchanging viewpoints would continue in order to increase awareness among people and achieve mutual support among the various classes in society in what could be an integrated societal effort. "We could benefit from this crisis by establishing new values, habits and behaviour which are absent in our lives like cleanliness and dealing with garbage in homes, streets, schools and the workplace in a civilised method," El-Sahhar wrote in the official daily Al-Gomhuriya. Garbage was very pressing this week. As a strike by the Italian garbage collection company entered its fourth week, garbage piled up in Giza. Refaat Rashad wrote that the experience proved that handing the collection of garbage over to foreign companies is a failure and the proof is the accumulation of garbage in many areas in Giza. The writer expected that Cairo would soon face the same fate. The government, Rashad elaborated, forced the citizen to pay LE8 extra on the electricity bill for the collection companies after he used to pay a maximum LE3. "The government could have used all the money it gives to foreign companies in improving local companies. It could have benefited from the huge amount of garbage collected in making organic manure," Rashad wrote in the independent daily Al-Masry Al-Yom. But, the writer said, "the problem is not in collecting garbage. It is in the way the government and some governors think and in the way we as a society resolve our problems." Mohamed Mustafa Shordi wrote that the accumulation of garbage on the streets has become a national rather than local problem. "Garbage is piling up in all governorates, not just Giza. Garbage piles up in Port Said, Alexandria, Tanta and in other cities and governorates. Nobody used to listen to far away cities. Their plight was felt when the problem reached Giza," Shordi wrote in the daily Al-Wafd, the mouthpiece of the opposition Wafd Party. Egypt witnessed active diplomatic activities this week in the hope of moving forward the stalled peace process between the Palestinians and Israelis. Al-Ahram 's editorial regarded the meeting between President Mubarak and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as very important. The two leaders discussed Jewish settlements and Palestinian reconciliation. Khaled Mashaal, Hamas politburo chief, arrived in Cairo to hold talks with General Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman on the latest developments concerning the inter-Palestinian dialogue. In addition, Cairo received the new Japanese envoy to the Middle East, Uotoka Amora, who discussed with Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit the latest developments in the peace process, and what Japan could offer in this regard. Cairo also received Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos and Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt. So, "Cairo remains the main station to which everyone comes in order to find a solution to that thorny Palestinian issue" the edit said. Three conditions are required for these efforts to succeed: Israel should first cooperate with these efforts. But this is not happening on the ground because it is putting obstacles in the way of peace. The latest of these obstacles is the Israeli insistence on settlement expansion in the West Bank despite calls to desist from Egypt, the US and France. Second, the US administration should cooperate with Egypt. Mubarak's visit to the US showed that the US appreciates Egyptian efforts to achieve peace. Perhaps George Mitchell, the US Middle East envoy's visit to the region succeeded in achieving progress. Third, Palestinian parties should reunite. The issue of watering crops with sewerage water still presents a real threat to people's health, a report prepared by the prime minister's office reiterated. Nevertheless, Al-Masry Al-Yom which uncovered the story a few weeks ago, reported that no serious measures have been taken.
