CAIRO: Forty-four suspected cases of H1N1 have tested negative, the Ministry of Health has confirmed, saying Egypt still remains free of the virus. The latest of these suspected cases were reported on Sunday in the governorates of Sixth of October, Cairo and Qaliubiya, including two women, one child and one man. Meanwhile, the General Authority for Veterinary Services has continued its culling campaign, culling a total of 30,497 pigs and slaughtering another 2,158 in the governorates of Cairo, Helwan, Beheira, Giza, Minya, Sohag, Sixth of October and Menufiya. At press time, the remaining number of pigs was 125,062, according to Authority estimates. Pig farmers receive a compensation of LE 100 for each slaughtered pig, LE 250 for pregnant pigs and LE 50 for young pigs. Slaughtered meat is stored for future consumption, while pregnant pigs and those under five months old are being culled and their meat disposed of. According to a press statement by Hamed Samaha, head of the General Authority for Veterinary Services, a decision was also made to cancel all slaughtering fees for pig farmers. The latest reports of the World Health Organization show 5,251 reported cases of H1N1 in 30 countries. Of these, 2,059 confirmed human cases were in Mexico, including 56 deaths, 2,600 in the United States, including three deaths, 330 in Canada, including one death, and eight in Costa Rica, also including one death. There have been no reported deaths elsewhere.
