A recent Health Ministry report revealed that 342 persons have been hospitalized for swine flu infections, said the minister Maha al-Rabat.
Out of those cases, 44 patients have died since 1 December.
In a joint press conference with Telecommunications Minister Atef Helmy, Rabat said. "We are at the same rate of infection as the international infection rate."
She also spoke of a plan to coordinate with the Education Ministry that will be applied throughout the school year to provide with detergents and putting instructions at schools on how to avoid infection. She said that schools will not be closed.
"100,000 doses of the vaccine have been provided for the neediest cases. The vaccine is available and can easily be obtained," the minister added. She called for providing all required measures to prevent infection and keeping children who have symptoms of the virus at home.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
