Naharnet

6-Year-Old Child Dies of H1N1 Virus in South

A six-year-old child has died of the H1N1 virus, or swine flu, in southern Lebanon, state-run National News Agency reported on Monday.

The child passed away at a hospital in the southern city of Sidon where he was receiving treatment, NNA said.

"He was admitted into the aforementioned hospital a week ago while suffering from the complications of this disease,” the agency added.

“He underwent intensive treatment but he was in an advanced stage of the disease,” it said.

Meanwhile, Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) identified the child as Hassan Fadi Ollaik, saying he hailed from the southern town of Bourj Qalaway in the Bint Jbeil district.

On January 27, NNA had reported that an 18-month-old girl was diagnosed with swine flu at Sidon's state hospital.

The hospital's management confirmed that she was suffering from the H1N1 virus, noting that she was receiving the appropriate treatment under the supervision of the health ministry.

The child, who hails from the northern district of Akkar, was first admitted to Notre Dame De Secours Hospital in Jbeil after suffering from severe flu-like symptoms, said NNA.

A major outbreak of the H1N1 virus sparked a World Health Organization pandemic alert in June 2009, after it emerged from Mexico and the United States.

The outbreak killed around 18,500 people in 214 countries. The alert was lifted in August 2010.

The so-called swine flu is transmitted between people through inhalation, but not from eating pork-related products, according to health experts.

Y.R.


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