Fifth H1N1 fatality announced

Khetam Malkawi

AMMAN- Health authorities on Friday announced the fifth H1N1 (swine) flu death in the Kingdom.

According to Adel Belbeisi, Director of the Ministry's Primary Health Directorate, the victim was a 26-year-old woman who was admitted to Al Hussein Public Hospital in Salt late Thursday in critical condition, and was immediately admitted into the hospital's ICU.

He added that the girl was suffering from high fever, cough and difficulties in breathing.

"Tests conducted by the ministry indicated that the woman exhibited symptoms of the disease three days before she was admitted to hospital without reporting to any medical centre for a check-up until after the disease developed," Belbeisi told The Jordan Times Friday.

Last week, the ministry issued a circular calling on people to report to hospital as soon as they feel swine flu symptoms.

“People who feel the first symptoms of swine flu should immediately report to any of the ministry’s public health centres or hospitals to be diagnosed during the early stages of the disease,” the ministry said in its statement.

It added that sometimes the symptoms are similar to those of the seasonal flu.

Symptoms of swine flu include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some patients have also reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Over the past week, health authorities registered 303 instances of swine flu, raising the total number of cases in the Kingdom to 2,003, and five death incidents including three in Amman of a 26-year-old man, 60-year-old man and a 15-year-old girl, one in Zarqa of a 22-year-old girl and the fifth in Salt of a 26-year-old women.