Gaza, December 6, 2009 (Pal Telegraph) – Hassan Khalaf, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health in Gaza, said that it was suspected number of swine flu cases in Al-Shifa Hospital and Al-Nasser Pediatrics Hospital.

The analysis results of the samples taken from the suspected cases confirmed the discovery of five swine flu cases today. The ministry confirmed, in a press conference, that the disease emerged in Gaza Strip after spreading out in more than 130 countries.

The ministry has prepared a plan to deal with swine flu since its appearance. It has prepared medical staffs, appropriate insulation departments and provided vaccines, medicines and the required analysis supplies.

Earlier, Dr. Asad Al-Ramlawi, the spokesman for the campaign against swine flu, declared the discovery of five swine flu cases, while the ministry in Gaza denied at the time.

Al-Ramlawi explained that there are two critical cases among the five. He pointed out that most of these patients arrived at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza. He added that there are other cases could not be accessed to the hospitals.

He said that the rate of those who reached the hospitals does not represent more than 2 % of the real number of the patients. In addition to, he denied any relation between the disease and the return of pilgrims from Hajj. He added that pilgrims were safe after receiving the vaccination which prevented them from the disease before their departure to Hajj.

Al- Ramlawi stated that the number of the registered cases reached 1250 case in West Bank, while the total number of deaths is nine since the announcement of swine flu emergence.

By Salem Al-Rayyes