CAIRO - As swine flu attracts global attention for the second consecutive year, Egyptians continue to deeply suffer from the H1N1 virus as Health Ministry announced Saturday that 51 patients have died of this virus over the past three months. “Since October, 51 Egyptians, mostly in rural areas, have passed away due to swine flu, raising the death toll of the virus in the country to 134," read a statement by the Ministry of Health. It added that the total number of Egyptians, who contracted the virus within the three months, were 1,145 patients. Recovered are 830 as 264 are still being treated, according to the official statement, a copy of which was obtained by The Egyptian Gazette. "All patients, specially old people, pregnant women and children, who feel symptoms of flu, should see a doctor. Doctors, meanwhile, should prescribe the Tamiflu drug for them," said the statement. It added that all Egyptian hospitals were provided with the Tamiflu, the most effective drug against the swine flu. "Also the medicament is available at pharmacies for LE70 ($12)," the Ministry said. The Ministry of Health also urged the public to observe personal hygiene and cleanliness to fight the endemic disease. While the World Health Organisation (WHO) has set the alert level for avian flu (H5N1) at two and that for swine flu (H1N1) at five, it is the bird strain that affects Egypt more, say experts. The WHO maps detecting bird flu hotspots highlight parts of Egypt's Nile Delta in red. Bird flu or H5N1 is threatening a huge sector of Egypt's population, especially those in rural areas, where people's economies depend on poultry. The Egyptian Government has frequently tried to ban home breading and announced last month the closure of all of Cairo's chicken slaughterhouses. However, illegal unregulated breeding continues as the Government offers no compensation or financial incentives to stop, according to market observers.
