Four in five flu cases in Lebanon are swine flu: minister

Beirut - Lebanon's Health Minister Mohammed Jawad Khalifeh warned Wednesday that test results showed that 80% of flu-victims are carrying the H1N1 virus in Lebanon. Khalifeh told the daily As Safir newspaper that tests carried out by several laboratories under the ministry's supervision on 2,000 cases revealed that 40% of them had flu, among which 80% were infected with swine flu.

"This means that we have moved to the stage of epidemic not only on the local level but also on the international level," the minister said.

Khalifeh said that most people infected with H1N1 are being cured at home by taking medications such as Panadol and Tylenol. However, when high body temperature is registered, swine flu patients are undergoing treatment at hospital.

The minister also revealed that the ministry will provide the anti-viral drug Tamiflu to state hospitals and distribute them for free to children.