According to doctors in Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv, the 21-year-old Swedish tourist admitted to an ICU with swine flu is not out of danger, explaining she contracted a severe case of the illness which is potentially fatal.

The tourist arrived last week with her mom to visit family in Israel, and shortly thereafter explained she did not feel well. She developed a high fever and was hospitalized, placed in isolation after it was determined she had a serious case of swine flu. The mother was also admitted, with a light case, and she was discharged from the hospital on Monday.

According to Ichilov’s director of the department of infectious diseases, Prof. Yehuda Carmeli, the patient has a combination of swine flu and a severe case of pneumonia. She was admitted to an ICU earlier in the week, listed in critical condition.

To date, there are 846 diagnosed cases in Israel, including about 50 news cases in recent days. Ministry of Health officials report that most of the cases were light. IDF health officials report that no less than 37 members of the air force serving in the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv have been diagnosed with the illness. They are all in light condition and they were checked and sent home.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)