Egypt Swine Flu Deaths at 64

CAIRO: Egyptian Ministry reports three more deaths on December 16th, caused by the swine flu. The total number of deaths is now 64. The people reported dead were: a 26-year old woman, a 2-year old boy, and a 14-year old student. 

Officials are expecting dead numbers to rise to 100 by the end of this year due to the winter season. Death rate might decrease in March 2010 as the weather warms up. 

Source: 

http://bikyamasr.com/?p=6872

(Reliability: 9)

Egypt Swine Flu Deaths Rise to 59

CAIRO: Egypt's Health Ministry reported on December 14th three more deaths from the swine flu, rising total number of deaths for Egypt to 59. Officials dread winter months will make people more vulnerable thus increasing the number of swine flu cases and deaths. 

The first death case reported was a man who was 47 years old from Beheira, Egypt. This man additionally suffered from dyspnea and cirrhosis.

The second case includes a 48-year-old woman from Beni Suef; she also suffered from dyspnea, but pneumonia as well.The third case was a pregnant 27-year-old woman from Minya. No previous health problems nor complications were reported. 

The Undersecretary of Ministry of Health for Preventative Affaris, Amr Kandil, argues the virus was not mutated, and the increase in cases does not indicate mutation alteration. Awad Mahgour, Director of Communicable Diseases at the World Health Organization, disagrees and suggests the virus has been mutated but is in a "restricted context." 

WHO research fails to prove the anti-viral drug Tamiflu prevents problems from the swine flu. However, they still recommend the use of Tamiflu to those who are already infected but not to those that are healthy. 

Sources: 

http://www.promedmail.org/pls/otn/f?p=2400:1001:237781::NO::F2400_P1001_BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_PUB_MAIL_ID:1000,80497

http://bikyamasr.com/?p=6807

(Reliability: 9)

Cairo Going Green

Since the pigs were slaughtered, civilians in Egypt have been looking for other alternatives. Few families started to recycle waste. Moreover, Thomas Culhane, presented the idea of turning organic waste into alternative energy in Garbage City, in east Cairo's Manshiet Nasser slums. He runs Solar Cities to develop and design technologies to solve local problems. His funds to install solar panels to produce hot water for families in Garbage City come from a grant from the US Agency for International Devolpment. Gargabe City is place where thousands of trash collectors reside, also known as zabaleen, who are Coptic Christians. Culhane's idea was accepted and spread to Muslim areas of Darb al-Ahmar, promoting Culhane and Hanna Fathy, who is a Manshiet Nasser resident involved as well. 

Source:

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/turning-trash-into-treasure-and-keeping-it-green-in-cairo-1839549.html

(Reliability: 6)

Comment: Due to the increase in garbage waste in the streets, Cairo did need an alternative to dispose organic waste since the pigs were terminated. Thomas Culhane's idea presents a possible solution to this problem. This will decrease favorable conditions to many diseases, including the swine flu.

Egypt's Death Toll: 32

CAIRO: Egyptian Health Ministry reported the 32th death caused by swine flu on Monday, December 7th . Further details on the person's health condition and situation were not provided by the ministry. MENA news agency states the victim is a 29-year-old woman from the northern Gharbiya governorate 50 miles north of Cairo. 

However, Abdel Rahman Shahine, ministry spokesman, reported the woman suffered from severe respiratory symptoms and had a history of cancer. She received chemotherapy and radiation treatments after having a hysterectomy. 

Source:

http://bikyamasr.com/?p=6460

(Reliability: 7)

Egypt's Health Ministry reports swine flu 22nd death

CAIRO: Abdel Rahman Shahin, Ministry of Health spokesperson, reported the death of a 53-year-old man from Helwan named Ali Mohamed Rashad, making the total number of deaths 22. The victim was hospitalized on Wednesday November 25th in the private hospital called Al Salam International Hospital. He was in a critical condition suffering from severe respiratory problems and had difficulty breathing, and was later put in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on a ventilator. Medical history reports indicate he also suffered from renal failure. 

Even though the hospitals admits people infected by the swine flu, it does not have the tools to test for H1N1. Therefore, Ali's test was sent to a Central Laboratory that is an affiliate of the Ministry of Health on the same day he was hospitalized. The test resulted positive. 

During the Eid El-Adha holiday weekend, eight more deaths were reported. 

Source: http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20091203053234/Egypt:%20Health%20ministry%20reports%2022nd%20swine%20flu%20death

(Reliability: 8)

Comment: World Health Organization (WHO) has reported 7,820 deaths across 207 countries. 

Swine Flue Fears for Hajj PILGRIMS

CAIRO- Vaccinations for meningitis, seasonal flu, yellow fever, and for the H1N1 are being distributed before civilians leave their country to the hajj. Before the vaccination is applied, a complete check-up on the individual is required to make sure the person is healthy. The process includes the following: a complete physical, including blood tests, chest x-rays and electrocardiograms. Other countries mandating the vaccine are China, Turkey, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and more. 

Source: http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/11/25/2136968.aspx

Reliability: 6

Comment: Three million people from 160 countries will gather for the worship. While Muslims view it as a spiritual experience, this gathering welcomes an opportunity of major outbreaks and further global spread and civilians return home. 

Egypt Reports 10th Swine Flu Death

CAIRO: Egypt's tenth death was reported on November 22 caused by the swine flu. The victim was a 48-year-old woman who was hospitalized Saturday night, and died the next day. Ministry officials report the woman was suffering from a high fever, asthma, and diabetes. However, the death was caused by the the worsening of these symptoms and condition by the swine flu. 

Nine out of the ten  cases have been women and health authorities are concerned. Till this day, approximately 3,000 cases have been reported caused by the swine flu. At least six schools have closed due to major outbreak concerns. 

H1N1, swine flu, vaccinations are still in the process of distribution among pilgrims participating in the annual Hajj at the end of November. Sanitary precautions are highly recommend since three million people are prone to infection. Major distress is the spread among people back in their local communities. Restrictions were officially imposed to prohibit the attendance of children and elderly in the annual pilgrims to decrease the possibilities of fatal outcomes. 

Source: http://bikyamasr.com/?p=5994

Reliability: 8