MDA equiped with protective masks
Photo: Shai Vaaknin, MDA Spokesman Unit
Swine flu claims 5th fatality in Israel
Man in his 50s dies from swine flu complications in Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, making him fifth to die from H1N1 virus in Israel. The man suffered from other illnesses, hospitalized for week. Magen David Adom puts together national plan to use protective masks, hold information days for workers
A man in his 50s died Thursday night in Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem from complications caused by swine flu. The hospital reported that the man suffered from other illnesses and was hospitalized for about a week.
The Health Ministry changed Thursday its policy for measuring the mortality rate of the H1N1 virus, instructing cases in which the virus cannot completely be ruled out as the cause of death to be included in statistics. This change was entered into force following the death of the 12-year-old girl who died Wednesday at Schneider Children's Medical Center in Petah Tikva. The girl also suffered from a genetic disorder.
Magen David Adom announced Friday that they would bump up their alert levels for the spread of the swine flu epidemic. The organization will equip its workers will advanced protective masks and gear. All MDA staff will undergo refresher courses. A national plan of attack against the epidemic has been drawn up.
MDA Director General Eli Bin has instructed that a number of steps be taken. All employees and volunteers are to undergo one-day refresher courses on the following subjects: Danger of infection, diagnosing the illness, risks of complications associated with the illness, how to protect yourself using a range of tools at the disposal of the workers in order to lower the likelihood of being infected by patients.
In addition, increased awareness will be fostered on the use of a range of disinfecting products recently acquired by the organization, including specialized equipment for washing and spraying ambulances in order to maintain a high level of hygiene and to prevent the spread of the virus from one patient to another.
The director general ordered extensive and unprecedented procurement of up-to-date and advanced N95 protective masks that will minimize airborne exposure to the virus.
Meital Yasur-Beit Or contributed to this report
