H1N1 vaccine optional: Health Ministry

Health Ministry affirmed here yesterday that the H1N1 vaccine was optional not mandatory. Dr. Ibrahim Abdulhadi, Undersecretary at the Ministry, told KUNA that news in the media about the mandatory vaccine was not true, stressing that the situation did not require such measures to be implemented. Kuwait witnessed around 8,644 cases of the H1N1 (commonly known as the swine flue) since last April with most cases recovering from the disease.

Ministry of Health announced on Thursday that around 22 cases of swine flu H1N1 were reported this week, a drop in the number of cases in comparison to the past months.

Thus, the total number of A(H1N1) cases in Kuwait has reached 8,644 since the outbreak of the virus in the country last April, the ministry's spokesman, Qais Al-Duweiri, said.

He added, the ministry follows the World Health Organization WHO's regulations, calling upon citizens to commit to precautionary guidelines to curb the spread of the disease.

Children under the age of five, pregnant women and those over the age of 65 years are more vulnerable to the disease, in addition to those with chronic illnesses and low immune systems.

Source:

Kuwait''s fifth swine flu death reported as nine year old

"An update for today that I can't miss posting."

KUWAIT, Aug 30 (KUNA) -- The Health Ministry reported the fifth death of swine flu in the State of Kuwait as a nine year old boy who had suffered chronic respiratory and chest ailments.

Ministry Spokesman Dr. Yousef Al-Nisif told KUNA the boy had been in critical condition due to chronic infection of the chest and later contracted the flu. The patient was in hospital since August 22 and given treatment and care in isolation at the Intensive Care Unit, but his health still deteriorated until he passed away late last night.

Most swine flu cases in the country have recovered, he noted, and all fatalities were of people already suffering serious and chronic ailments before getting the swine flu virus. So far, recovery rate of swine flu in Kuwait stands at 99 percent and cases are reported and detected at below international rates, with most of the cases being categorized as mild. Most susceptible to the swine flu virus are children below five, pregnant women, and those with chronic ailments such as diabetes, asthma, and those with weak immune system.

Source:

Kuwait confirms 2nd swine flu death

Image via Wikipedia

"Sad to learn about the news lately but if not for other health conditions and complications especially respiratory infection, it wouldn't result to death."

22 August 2009
Kuwait's Health Ministry on Saturday confirmed a second death from swine flu.

Ministry spokesman Dr. Yousif Al-Nisf told KUNA that the woman, in her 20s, had a respiratory system infection in addition to being infected with the H1N1 virus.

The woman was in her eighth month of pregnancy and had a caesarean section operation carried out after being admitted to hospital on August 12.

The official also confirmed the number of infected cases now stands at 1,072, the vast majority of which have been described as mild.

Source here: