A 51-year-old woman who was inherently healthy died of swine flu in Ha’emek Hospital in Afula on Monday morning.

Earlier in the day, Health Ministry officials report an additional two fatalities connected to swine flu, a 65-year-old male resident of Haifa and a Sharon area female, 55.

The male victim was also battling cancer, and he died in Rambam Medical Center. The man was admitted to the medical center on at least two separate occasions during November, presenting with a high fever when he was brought in a number of days prior to his death. His condition deteriorated rapidly and he died on Sunday in an intensive care unit.

The woman died on Friday (13 November) in Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikvah. She too was battling an underlying illness, contributing to a weakened overall physical condition. She was admitted last month, presenting with a high fever and severe respiratory compromise.

The two deaths bring the national death toll from swine flu to 48.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)