Swine flu worries Gaza; 10 deaths reported so far

Grave concern is spreading in the Gaza Strip over swine flu with 10 deaths recorded so far and another 20 people diagnosed as having the disease, while there may be hundreds of suspect cases. The Palestinian Civilian Committee is considering transferring some patients to Israeli hospitals.

Last week, Hamas police detained a swine flu patient in critical condition on his way to Israel for treatment, and he died shortly thereafter in a local hospital. Last week, Israel sent 10,000 doses of swine flu vaccine to the Strip and is expected to send more.

Palestinian Authority officials criticize the Hamas government in the Strip for its "business as usual" policy, which they say is undermining attempts to halt the spread of the disease.

Meanwhile, Gaza residents have been trying to come up with their own initiatives. One resident in an affluent neighborhood of Gaza City is keeping his son home from school, as the schools are seen as incubators of the disease. He told Haaretz there were hardly any vaccine in the Strip, and most certainly not enough for the entire population.

Gaza was largely spared the swine flu pandemic, in part because of the near-hermetic blockade imposed by Israel. However, now that the virus has arrived, the high population density and the poor hygiene common in Gaza's poorest areas could mean it will spread much faster than elsewhere in the world.

A Gaza resident said those who can afford it buy vaccine on the black market for as much as $50 a shot. Gazans believe anise helps to cure the flu, and the herb's price has skyrocketed from NIS 18 a kilo a month ago to as much as NIS 80.