Swine flu death toll rises following 10th victim. A 62-year-old woman died Tuesday morning at the Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital after being diagnosed with the H1N1 virus.
The woman suffered from breathing difficulties and was in need of respiration. She was admitted 10 days ago to the intensive care unit. The Health Ministry said that although they could not determine with certainty that the H1N1 virus was the cause of death, they could not rule out a connection between the two.
On Monday, two men aged 67 and 76 died asa result of H1N1 complications. The 67-year-old patient was hospitalized a week ago in serious condition at the intensive care unit in the Rabin Medical Center in Petah Tikva and had apparently suffered from a severe illness.
The 76-year-old man suffered from a heart condition and was also admitted in serious condition to the intensive care unit at the Hasharon Hospital. Health Ministry officials claim that in these cases too swine flu could not be determined as cause of death but could not be ruled out either.
'More funds for treatment'
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Union of Local Authorities Shlomo Buchbut, addressed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling him to allocate additional funds for local authorities and the Health Care system for treatment in educational establishments, and even suggested announcing a state of medical emergency prior to the beginning of the school year. This, following a communication from the Education Ministry Chief of Staff regarding the education system's preparation for swine flu.
Sources in the Health Ministry were perplexed with Buchbut's statements. "The ministries of health and education have devised an elaborate plan on preparing for the H1N1 epidemic.