Israeli health officials are monitoring a number of cases of swine flu that have been reported, better known to some as H1N1.

Officials in Beersheva’s Soroka Medical Center are reporting that two of the patients diagnosed with the illness, females, are showing signs of improvement and are admitted in isolation. Another female, 25, in serious condition, required respiratory intervention and she remains in an intensive care unit. Due to her serious condition her baby was delivered by C-section. The infant is listed in ‘stable’ condition in an intensive care unit.

Another woman, 57, with ‘risk factors’ has been diagnosed with the illness and admitted to an intensive care unit in serious condition.

Soroka officials add none of the patients had vaccinations.

Officials at Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikvah report a swine flu patient that arrived a month ago was in very serious condition, connected to an ECMO machine. That patient was fighting for her life but was niftar on Wednesday night, the eve of 12 Teves. She was in her 50s and had underlying illnesses as well.

In a related matter, Israel Health Ministry officials are calling on the tzibur to get a flu vaccine at a Kupat Cholim HMO. One may be vaccinated free of charge.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)