Two people have died in Israel of the swine flu, the first deaths from the disease since Sukkos. In one case, a 64-year old cancer patient from Zichron Ya’akov died at Rambam Medical Center after he was diagnosed with swine flu, also known as H1N1 virus.
A one-year-old infant from Bnei Brak, who has suffered from serious health problems since birth, including heart and lung problems, died at Ichilov Hospital, after being hospitalized for six weeks with swine flu symptoms.
To date, 34 people have died in Israel as a result of complications caused by the swine flu. In three of those cases, the victims had not suffered from chronic illnesses.
Nine people remain hospitalized and are seriously ill with swine flu.
Vaccines for the H1N1 virus continued to arrive in Israel today from the Swiss supplier Novartis, and the British arm of GlaxoSmithKline. Mass inoculations are expected to begin next week against swine flu; the first to receive the shots will be medical staff and patients with chronic illnesses aged three and older.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry and the Pediatricians Association have reported that there has been a new rise in swine flu cases among children, following a drop during Yom Tov. The rise is attributed to a return to school following Sukkos, and the numbers of sick children are expected to rise during the winter.
{Yair Alpert-Matzav.com Israel/Haaretz}
