Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., April 30, 2009 Iyyar 6, 5769 | | Israel Time: 01:06 (EST+7)   Back to Homepage web haaretz.com Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Focus U.S.A. Travel Week's End Anglo File TLV 100

2nd traveler quarantined on return from Mexico By Ran Reznick, Yair Ettinger and Zohar Blumenkrantz A 47-year-old man who returned from Mexico yesterday complaining of fever, headache and a sore throat was admitted to Meir Hospital in Kfar Sava, where he was placed in quarantine and is being tested for swine flu. His condition was described as "good." He was the second Israeli to be placed in quarantine over fears of an outbreak of the disease. A 26-year-old man was quarantined at Netanya's Laniado Hospital after returning from Mexico on Friday with similar mild flu-like symptoms. The patient at Meir Hospital is being treated with Tamiflu (Oseltamivir phosphate), recommended by the Health Ministry for treatment of influenza. "Under normal circumstances this patient would certainly not have been hospitalized," Dr. Michal Chowers, head of the hospital's infectious disease unit, said. "His hospitalization is part of the Health Ministry's efforts to locate any initial cases of swine flu in Israel. We sent blood samples from the patient to a Health Ministry laboratory; results are expected in three to four days. The patient himself does not appear to be worried. I saw him and told him the whole ruckus around him does not in any way mean that he is seriously ill." Advertisement The Health Ministry yesterday said it embraced the recommendation of the European Commission to postpone nonessential travel to Mexico and recommends that travelers be alert to reports regarding other countries. In a press conference yesterday ministry officials said that no swine flu cases have yet been recorded in Israel. They said they were not issuing any special instructions to the public for now, including individuals returning from Mexico. The ministry did recommend that such travelers seek medical assistance if they develop flu-like symptoms within seven days after their return. These individuals would be quarantined at local hospitals until their condition is determined, like the patients at Laniado and Meir hospitals. The Israel Airports Authority said yesterday it had not received instructions from the Health Ministry on how to deal with incoming passengers presenting with flu-like symptoms. In a statement to Haaretz, the authority said "We are prepared for any epidemic scenario but are awaiting directives from the Ministry of Health." Deputy Health Minister Yaaakov Litzman (United Torah Judaism) said that Israel has sufficient stocks of Tamiflu to treat 18% of the population. The ministry said yesterday it was in the process of increasing that figure to 25%, in accordance with World Health Organization directives. Representatives for local and foreign airlines operating to and from Israel said they are not making any special preparations to deal with the disease and that there have been not been significant numbers of cancelations of flight reservations to Mexico. However, Delta Airlines, which operates connecting flights to Mexico, said that any passengers booked to travel to Mexico up to and including May 4 may change their reservations without additional charge. According to officials in the travel industry, only a few thousand Israelis visit Mexico each year. There are no direct flights between the two countries, so most travelers take connecting flights via Europe, the United States or bordering countries. The comparatively high price of such flights, coupled with the economic crisis, has reduced the number of travelers between the two countries even further. Minister gives virus kosher name Litzman yesterday avoided using the common name for the disease, since pigs are not kosher. Speaking at the press conference announcing preparations for a possible swine flu epidemic, the deputy health minister said the Health Ministry was "at the spearhead of the effort to block the Mexican flu from spreading into Israel." The ultra-Orthodox daily Hamevaser similarly avoided the use of the term "swine flu". The Lithuanian Haredi daily Yated Ne'eman used swine flu in its reportage, but not in headlines. Ultra-Orthodox publications normally avoid using the words "pig" or "swine", preferring to call the animal or its meat "the other thing." Bookmark to del.icio.us   Swine killed over flu Egypt orders pigs killed in anticipation of pandemic. Obama greets Israel U.S. President salutes Israel's 61st independence day.

Read & React Independence Day / I am a Zionist and I am proud Responses: 138 Barak: Israel can and must make peace within three years Responses: 137 Bradley Burston: Could the Taliban get the bomb before Iran does? Responses: 65 'Every step that strengthens Hamas only distances peace' Responses: 114 More Headlines 23:26 Peres: Bombing Iran may not be the 'best solution' 00:12 All four suspected swine flu victims in Israel test negative 23:23 Lieberman: Israel has worked to achieve peace since its creation 13:51 Obama congratulates Israel on turning 61 23:28 How Gideon Levy's first scoop got buried 15:40 'Israel's response to drill with Syria doesn't concern us' 22:42 IN PICTURES / Israel celebrates 61st Independence Day 21:43 WATCH: Daily news round-up from Israel 00:13 Netanyahu: Israel to do all in its power to bring Shalit home 19:30 German confesses to selling rocket material to Iran 14:27 Israeli Arabs mark 61st anniversary of Nakba 18:19 Probe into suspected draft-dodging promoters draws fire 18:46 Egypt orders slaughter of all pigs over swine flu Previous Editions Select Day 29 apr 28 apr 27 apr 26 apr 24 apr 23 apr 22 apr 21 apr 20 apr 19 apr 17 apr 16 apr

Special Offers Advertisement Spring Specials-Dan Hotels Jerusalem from 179$. Tel-Aviv from 223$. Herzliya from 336$ The Meier on Rothschild Tower Masterpiece Residence in the Heart of Tel Aviv Dead Sea Skin Care Quality cosmetics from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 12% off! Camp Kimama Israel 2009 The best place for your children this summer Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations Jewish Singles Personal Ads Find the love of your life on JDate.com Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | | Israel 2009 election results

Site rules | Makom: Engaging on Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved