Thirteen swimmers from Zamalek Club came down with the H1N1 virus, Abeer Anwar reports Panic swept through Zamalek after 13 of the club's swimmers were found to have caught swine flu during their participation in the districts' competition hosted last week by Ahli Club in Nasr City. Around 600 swimmers participated in the event but H1N1 appeared to strike only Zamalek athletes. "It is obvious that a Zamalek swimmer became infected before the tournament began and he got in contact with his teammates in the dressing room and the bus that was driving them to the event," Gamal Salaheddin, Ahli's team doctor, said. As soon as the news spread, swimmers from the participating clubs -- Shooting, Maadi, Ahli and Ghaba -- sent their athletes to hospitals to check for swine flu. Most parents prevented their children from continuing their swimming training. Some Zamalek parents said they had been complaining that their children were suffering from fever but that no one listened until it spread on the team. Several clubs suspended swimming practice, sending an official letter to the Ministry of Health seeking to know how effective was water as a medium for the transmission of swine flu. Saber Serag, a member of the Zamalek board, announced the indefinite suspension of all swimming activities in the club. Serag criticised the ministry for what he said was its lack of concern over the issue. "There should be one or two officials from the Health Ministry present at every championship to ensure that the athletes are safe and free of swine flu," Serag said. Hani Abu Reida, head of the Egyptian organising committee of the FIFA U-20 football World Cup, affirmed the tournament would take place on its official date, starting 24 September, and that there was no inclination of postponing or canceling the competition because of swine flu." "Egypt is still safe and football matches are going on safely," Abu Reida said. "We can't stop sports in Egypt or suspend them because of some personal infections. Swine flu is still not an epidemic in Egypt."
