LOC16:01
13:01 GMT
CAIRO, May 10 (KUNA) -- Egyptian Minister of Health Dr. Hatem el-Gabali on
Sunday issued a sharp criticism at the World Health Organization (WHO) for
causing panic to citizens after raising the degree of readiness to five out of
the six degree level sclae in regard to the swin flu epidemic.
El-Gabali said in a statement before a meeting of the People Assembly's
Health Committee that raising the alert level to this extent does not reflect
at all the ferocity of the disease nor the the numbers of injured.
He said that such matter would only be justified should the epidemic
spreads in two different areas, in addition to a considerable overestimation
of the Western media about the disease and the rejection of a link between
what happened with the Spanish flu, which emerged after the Second World War
and the swine flu.
He expected a lethargic of swine flu virus spread in the two or three weeks
to come to be then followed by another period of revitalization for this
dreaded disease in the autumn, calling for resistance to the rumors about the
disease and to inquire about anything about it.
He said that about 2,500 suspected cases had been examined so far, which
all were confirmed negative, stressing that all outlets are strictly
controlled and the red Xrays would be introduced at these outlets to prevent
any suspected swine flu cases. (end)
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KUNA 101601 May 09NNNN