A third Israeli was confirmed to be infected with H1N1 Flu on Saturday, while four more Israelis are being monitored for the disease. Meanwhile, health officials insist that the epidemic has come under control.
On Saturday a 34-year old resident of Tel Aviv who had recently traveled to Mexico was confirmed to have the flu. He is currently receiving treatment in isolation at Ichilov Hospital. Health officials suspect his wife may have the disease as well, but have not yet confirmed the diagnosis.
In addition, three other Israelis who recently returned from Mexico were hospitalized with symptoms of the H1N1 virus. The Health Ministry also asked that travelers on Iberia flight #3752 from Madrid, which arrived in Tel Aviv Saturday, remain at home for the next week out of fear they may have contracted the disease.
H1N1 flu, commonly known as swine flu, seems to have originated in North America and spread worldwide. The World Health Organization has reported 658 cases in 16 countries.
Mexican Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said on Sunday that the epidemic is coming under control. “There are enough elements to say that we are in a stabilization phase,” he said. Mexican officials recently lowered the death toll in the country from the flu drastically from almost 200 to 19, after extensive laboratory tests failed to support the higher figure.
The U.S. has been hit second-hardest, with 160 confirmed cases and one death in Texas. American health officials emphasized that the outbreak would probably still continue and more deaths were possible.
Israel has implemented stiff measures in an effort to curb the spread of the disease. Doctors have been stationed at border crossings, while a clinic opened in Ben Gurion International Airport to perform quick checks on passengers coming from Mexico. In addition, the Health Ministry purchased extra medicines and flu vaccines in the unlikely case of a large-scale outbreak.