Swine Flu: Emergency in Algerian hospitals

Number of people infected with swine flu increased, as the Ministry of Health set eight new suspected cases in the Hospital of Oran under control, and it comes to staff in the services of the national customs, and the hospital sends samples to the Pasteur Institute to diagnose their conditions, but the possibility of being infected with a seasonal swine or pigs flu is not yet confirmed.

The Hospital of Oran contacted Pasteur Institute on the suspicion on the number of employees of the national customs’ services infected with swine flu, as they placed these cases under medical supervision pending the outcome of tests that have been sent to the Pasteur Institute in Algiers, and it comes to sending samples of blood and saliva of the suspects.

According to Echorouk sources, the cases are women between the ages of 30 to 38 years old, as the Ministry of Health previously confirmed, that the number of swine flu infections have become normal, just like other types of flu in Algeria, stressing that the vaccine is available and there is no need for concern.

The Ministry of Health sent orders to all hospitals to ensure the patients, who complain of seasonal flu, with subjecting them to acute tests to determine the kind of the virus they are carrying, supervised by Pasteur Institute, where the follow-up of health conditions for people with colds whatsoever, with providing guidance and instructions for patients about methods of prevention from this disease, as most of the injuries were recorded so far in Tizi Ouzou, eastern Algiers, especially after recording three deaths due to seasonal flu.

Those worries come at a time when the Ministry of Health and Hospital Reform, provided new quantities of seasonal influenza vaccine for the elderly, pregnant women, people with chronic illnesses and kids, who will be able to get this vaccine for free, as the ministry’s decision comes because of the high incidence of severe seasonal flu, which caused death of a number of people.

Ministry of Health announced earlier, that the vaccination campaign against seasonal flu is still moving to the end of winter, and the vaccine is available on the level of public health, as this campaign concerns mainly elderly, pregnant women, people with chronic diseases like heart disease, respiratory infections, diabetes and obesity , HIV, and diseases of cancer cells and employees as well.