Seven new cases of H1N1, commonly known as swine flu, emerged Thursday in Qalyubia governorate and were placed in an isolation room at the hospital for treatment.
Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health in the governorate, Zakaria Abd Rabbo, said that the drug Tamiflu is available in all hospitals of the ministry, in addition to the necessary equipments to fight infection including disinfectants and detergents.
Director of the Cairo Health Directorate in Cairo Hossam Khatib said Thursday during the meeting of the executive council of the Cairo governorate that the total number of people infected with the flu in all the country reached 660,000 and 44 of them died.
He added that that the infection rate is similar to the rate last year, saying that treatment takes a long time.
The Ministry of Health announced Thursday in press release the protocol for treating the flu in governmental hospitals.
The protocol advised that children less than five years old get treated at home with Tamiflu in case they have minor symptoms, in case of deterioration they should be isolated in the hospital.
The Tamiflu treatment lasts between five to ten days, depending on the severity of the case.
If the patient is older than 65 years, he should be treated at home with Tamiflu and in case of deterioration the patient gets isolated in hospital as well. The protocol also advised that if the patient suffers from chronic diseases, he is advised to do the same.
After the analysis shows the cases are negative and not infected with H1N1, Tamiflu treatment should be stopped. The protocol added that if the patient has pneumonia or severe acute respiratory inflammation, the patient also gets treated with Tamiflu and hospitalized.
The World Health Organization has changed the name of swine flu to seasonal flu, because it is now transferred among humans, unlike the bird flu, which spreads from infected birds directly to people.
