Egypt: Health announces the stability of the swine flu virus mutates

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010

In conjunction with the timing of the emergence of swine flu virus, the annual, which falls this month in the world, Ministry of Health announced this afternoon a constant level of the evolution of influenza virus emerging ah1n1 known as swine flu, confirmed that so far there is no evidence that there is a mutation in the virus or Mqhumich to Tamiflu of the viruses that were isolated from patients in Egypt.

Dr. Nasr El Sayed, Assistant Minister of Health for Preventive Medicine, that there is continued cooperation with reference laboratories and research bodies in order to pursue the development of influenza virus and infectious and the laboratory to monitor any changes in the characteristics of the virus or severity of the disease caused him, even now there was no evidence that there is a mutation in the virus or resistance to Tamiflu, and there is no new types of otherwise conventional seasonal influenza or laboratory evidence on potential new wave of the disease at this time.

Mr, it is the follow-up the global situation of influenza emerging swine flu, as the number of countries infected with the disease so far 214 countries around the world and the number of deaths confirmed experimentally 18 114 cases, indicating a decline in the prevalence of disease, the continent of Africa and the tropics.

And the epidemic situation in Egypt, he pointed out that the total confirmed cases to the laboratory were 16 356 cases, pointing out that the increase in the number of detected cases of the disease began in the months of November and December 2009 and January 2010, they ranged between 2226 cases and 8064 state and then receded disease with the beginning of February 2010, reaching 284 cases to have decreased proliferation and say the numbers dramatically, with cases ranging between 56 to 93 cases during the months of March and April and May 2010.

The Assistant to the Minister that the number of deaths from the disease reached 280 and 115 of them in the month of December alone, and the rest 112 cases in January 2010 and then declining number to 12 cases in February, and three cases in each of the months of March and April and May 2010 and found that 79% of the deaths have chronic diseases and risk factors for global diseases such as heart and blood vessels, chest, kidneys, liver, diabetes and obesity, in addition to pregnancy.

For his part, said Dr. Abdel Rahman Shahin, official spokesman of the Ministry of Health, the ministry is continuing in the activities and efforts to follow up the disease for early detection of any increase in the prevalence rates or any changes through the surveillance of avian influenza and seasonal influenza and pneumonia cases and cases of acute severe respiratory, and that of all hospitals nationwide.

Shaheen explained, it is confirmed experimentally in all cases, as is supported with five laboratories regional governorates of Alexandria and Minya, Aswan, Western and Sinai the southern and contribute with the central laboratory in the Laboratory confirmation of cases, referring to the screening laboratory to the number 44551 sample during the period from May 2009 to April 2010, in addition to the permit to 20 special laboratories are diagnosing the disease, according to regulations and specific criteria.

Shaheen told the availability of Tamiflu, the anti-disease, in sufficient quantities, either capsules or drink, pointing to the presence of 5 Mlaethein dose strategic stockpile were distributed, and a number 1.890000 dose to all hospitals that deal with cases on the level of the Republic, referring to the continuing process of vaccination against the disease especially for people with chronic diseases and travelers to perform Umrah, which were vaccinated more than 700 thousand people from all groups.

He noted the continued activity of the hotline services 105 full lines with 60 line, where the replies to all inquiries of citizens regarding the disease and prevention methods, amounting to 15 thousand calls a day with a total of nearly 2 million and a half call so far.
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