Egypt's Ministry of Health announced on Sunday that 26 people had died from "complications associated with the H1N1 virus," commonly known as "swine flu,” over the course of the past week, but added that overall infection rates were considerably lower than last year.
Most of those who died were people already suffering from chronic diseases or pregnant women, according to a ministry statement.
The statement noted that a total of 598 cases of H1N1 had been diagnosed in the period from 9 to 15 January. The statement also noted that infection rates during the current winter season had doubled within the over-40 age bracket compared to last year.
However, laboratory results cited by the ministry indicated a 73.9-percent decrease in overall swine flu infection rates and a 48.8-percent decrease in H1N1-related mortality rates during the current winter season as compared to the 2009-2010 winter season.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
