Algeria raises flu alert

Algerian health ministry raised its flu alert to level 6 and notified all the medical centres at airports and ports to step up surveillance on passengers.

• Experts at the ministry’s crisis cell prepared on Friday a detailed report on the H1N1 virus after the world Health Organisation (WHO) declared swine flu as a pandemic.
• The cell sent a set of recommendations to 17 ministerial sectors and institutions as part of national coordination to manage emergency cases.
• The ministry ordered to put all passengers entering Algeria sick of cold under test even if they were not in a country touched by the swine flu.
• The ministry is expected to organise conferences and awareness-raising campaigns among people, doctors and journalists this week to make them ready for facing potential spread of the pandemic.
• According to a statement issued by the ministry, a prevention inspection campaign of Algiers-based Pasteur’s institute showed that Algeria is not affected by the virus.
• “Algeria reinforced all its prevention measures to face the pandemic,” said the statement.