Influenza A (H1N1): Eastern Mediterranean Region - WHO latest update, 12 Sep 2009
EmailAs of 12 September 2009, 23:00 hours, Cairo time, 10,533 laboratory-confirmed cases of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 were reported to WHO by 21 out of 22 Member States of WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region. A total of 696 of these reported cases were locally transmitted. Djibouti became the latest country in the Region to report cases of pandemic (H1N1) 2009. There are 61 related deaths from Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 reported, so far, from the Region. These deaths were reported from Bahrain (3), Egypt (2), Iraq (1), Islamic Republic of Iran (2), Kuwait (5), Lebanon (2), Oman (13), Palestine (1), Saudi Arabia (28), Syria (2), Qatar (1) and Yemen (1).
Since the last reporting date (05 September 2009), an additional 328 laboratory-confirmed cases of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 were reported from 6 Member States: Egypt (133), Islamic Republic of Iran (29), Iraq (13), Jordan (46), Palestine (2), Saudi Arabia (85) and Yemen (17). No report was available from other countries. Some countries reported cases retrospectively.
To date, 10533 laboratory-confirmed cases were reported in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.
As of 12 September 2009, 23:00 hours Cairo time
|
Country
|
Total laboratory-confirmed
cases reported by the state parties
|
Total deaths reported
by the state parties
|
| Afghanistan |
32
|
0
|
| Bahrain |
253
|
3
|
| Djibouti |
7
|
0
|
| Egypt |
860
|
2
|
| Iraq |
185
|
1
|
| Islamic Republic of Iran |
357
|
2
|
| Jordan |
210
|
0
|
| Kuwait |
1797
|
5
|
| Lebanon |
761
|
2
|
| Libyan Arab Jamahiriya |
19
|
0
|
| Morocco |
140
|
0
|
| Oman |
1432
|
13
|
| Pakistan |
2
|
0
|
| Palestine |
130
|
1
|
| Qatar |
23
|
1
|
| Saudi Arabia |
4119
|
28
|
| Sudan |
4
|
0
|
| Syrian Arab Republic |
29
|
2
|
| Tunisia |
43
|
0
|
| United Arab Emirates |
79
|
0
|
| Yemen |
51
|
1
|
| Total |
10533
|
61 |
What can I do to protect myself from catching influenza A(H1N1)?
You can prevent yourself from infection by avoiding close contact with people who show influenza-like symptoms (try to maintain a distance of about 1 metre if possible) and taking the following measures:
- avoid touching your mouth and nose;
- clean hands thoroughly with soap and water, or cleanse them with an alcohol-based hand rub on a regular basis (especially if touching the mouth and nose, or surfaces that are potentially contaminated);
- avoid close contact with people who might be ill;
- reduce the time spent in crowded settings if possible;
- improve airflow in your living space by opening windows;
- practise good health habits including adequate sleep, eating nutritious food, and keeping physically active.
Should I take an antiviral now as a preventive measure against the new virus?
No. You should only take an antiviral, such as oseltamivir or zanamivir, if your health care provider advises you to do so. Individuals should not buy medicines to prevent or fight this new influenza without a prescription, and are advised not to buy such antivirals over the internet.
