It began to spread a number of months ago, reaching worrisome proportions and demanding the involvement of the World Health Organization (WHO). Then, swine flu fears dissipated as people around the world realized more people die annually of ‘regular’ flu than swine flu.

It was not that long ago that the term swine flu was unknown, but now, it is familiar to all around the world, having made its way from Mexico.

Now, health officials are increasingly concerned, in part due to the unknown, but here in Eretz Yisrael, the Health Ministry admits there is no real figure as to just how many Israelis have been infected, with estimates leveling off in the area of 1,500. In recent days, there have been reports of a number of people admitted to hospitals in serious condition, and on motzei shabbos, an Eilat man in his 30s became Israel’s first swine flu fatality.

While the summer heat is far from behind us, Health Ministry officials are looking ahead to winter, flu season, apparently with increasing concern. The current predicted escalation in the spread of swine flu has prompted Israel to order 2 million vaccinations. It was not just the weekend death of 34-year-old Shimon Azran, who died in Eilat’s Yosef Tal Hospital, but the awareness that more and more citizens are being infected, Baruch Hashem, most cases remaining light.

At present, there are eight people who remain in serious conditions in hospitals nationwide, and Health Ministry officials report four children in Bnei Brak’s Aleh Institute are confirmed with swine flu while another 50 appear to have contracted the illness as well. Estimates for the upcoming winter predict 300,000 to 2 million people will contract the illness, basing the estimate on data accumulated during recent weeks as well as WHO information.

Dr. Tommy Scheinfeld, who heads the pediatric ICU in Schneider Children’s Hospital reports on Tuesday afternoon that a 2.5-month-old infant is in “serious and relatively stable condition” with the illness, which is exacerbated by pneumonia. The infant is on a respirator. When asked if the infant is in life-threatening danger the doctor stated that he is for as long as he requires the mechanical respirator.

Elsewhere in the region, Saudi Arabia also reported its first swine flu death, with Saudi health officials reporting some 300 cases, apparently concerned the number will increase as well. Lebanese health officials report 105 confirmed cases and no fatalities.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)