Swine Flu Getting Near Algeria’s Western Border… Health Ministry Reassures

Swine flu seems to be spreading by leaps and bounds in Morocco and the statistics say that the number of deaths has been increasing since January 28, 2019.

However, the severity of infections is likely to vary considerably depending on the degree of vulnerability of each person.

Contrary to what some people think, the flu vaccine does not protect against swine flu, also known as H1N1.

Fever, headache, chills, muscular pains, runny nose, tiredness and cough are the symptoms of this disease which, according to the Moroccan Health Ministry has caused 5 dead up to now. In some cases, the symptoms also include diarrhea and vomiting.

In a swift reaction and in order to ward off a wave of panic among the Algerian population, the Ministry of Health stated that Algeria is safe from the virus and that its western borders are fortified.

On the subject, the head of the Department of Prevention of the Directorate of Health in Algiers, Dr. Boudjemaa Ait Ouaras, said in a statement to “Echorouk” on Sunday, that his services hadn’t so far registered any cases of swine flu virus in Algeria, and assured citizens that there is no risk of transmission of the virus to our country.

He underlined to this effect that all Algerians’ movements towards neighboring Morocco are carried out by aircraft, and we all know that travelers through the air are subject to periodic surveillance to avoid the transmission of infectious diseases.

However, he stressed the imperious need for citizens to be vaccinated against seasonal flu, to avert any health complications that may affect the elderly and those people suffering from chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, kidney and respiratory failure, in addition to young children as well as pregnant women.

However, children may have different symptoms from those of adults. For example, they are less likely to have fever and cough.

Babies, on the other hand, may have fever and lethargy without other symptoms.

The risk of infection depends on many factors, including your age, whether you are pregnant or not, and the strength of your immune system.

The greatest danger, according to our interlocutor, may be facing pilgrims heading to the holy sites of Islam in Saudi Arabia, and this prompted him to call on them to get closer to the nearest health centers to receive the necessary vaccines.