CAIRO - MODIFIED flu, swine flu and seasonal flu, such terms perplex people, especially as many people are suffering from the flu and a number of others have died of it. Afew days ago, Minister of Health Dr Hatem el-Gabali announced that 16 people have died in Egypt of influenza since last October. What has increased the perplexity of citizens is the contradictory statements from senior officials, who stress that the pandemic is over and there is no danger. However, only a few days ago, it was announced that five women had died of the swine flu in Fayoum, Sharqia, Gharbia, Sohag and Ismailia governorates, while a baby had also died of modified influenza. Minister el-Gabali also said that nearly 350 people had been infected with modified flu since early October, although the situation is under control. He stressed that seasonal flu is more common at this time of year. Last August, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced that swine flu has become seasonal flu. Dr Abdel-Halim Bahari, the Director of the Preventive Medicine Department for the Ministry of Health in Giza, says that the vaccine for seasonal flu is available at health centres and the General Authority for Vaccines. The vaccine for modified flu consists of a mixture of the seasonal, swine and avian flu viruses. Senior officials at the Ministry of Health stress the need for applying preventive methods against all types of influenza, especially seasonal flu, which sometimes proves fatal. Nasser el-Sayyed, the Consultant to the Minister of Health for Preventive Medicine, says that swine flu is modified flu. In comments last month, he noted that swine flu hadn't returned this winter. However, just a few days later, Dr Abdel-Rahman Shahin, the official spokesman for the Minister of Health, said that there were 70 cases of swine flu. So who should we believe? Dr Shahin also noted that, of August 8, 258 people had died of the swine flu. Physicians stress that the flu which struck worldwide last year was nothing new and that it was dangerous to peoplewith low immunity. If someone is running a high temperature, they could be suffering from this flu. Dr Adel Ashour, a professor of paediatrics at the National Research Centre, told Al-Wafd opposition newspaper that prevention is vital, especially in children, who should be vaccinated against all types of flu. Maintaining personal cleanliness and refraining from kissing are two measures that help stop the flu spreading. A healthy diet, containing plenty of vitamin C from fruits like guavas and oranges and plenty of protein, is also important for producing antibodies to ward off the flu, as is adequate ventilation. Flu patients should be kept in a wellventilated place and drink plenty of water and hot drinks, including aniseed, that contains a substance which forms the most important ingredient of Tamiflu. Professor of immunity Abdel-Hadi Mosbah, who is a member of the US Academy for Immunity, stresses that there isn't a swine flu pandemic, urging the WHO to refer to it as modified flu. “Complications from modified flu depend on the patient's immunity and other health problems he might be suffering from,” explains Dr Mosbah, adding that mild modified flu only requires the patient to take normal medications and rest in bed. “But if the patient doesn't respond to antipyretics, complications may occur and he could develop pneumonia, whose symptoms include difficulty breathing and the patient's lips going blue. If this happens, it's vital to consult a doctor immediately.”
