Baghdad, 5 February 2013 – 11 out of 598 laboratory-confirmed influenza cases caused by influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 have died, reported Dr Sattar Jabar Al Saidi, Under-Secretary General of the Ministry of Health, during a press conference held today in Baghdad in collaboration with WHO.
The situation is under control, Dr Al-Saidy assured the assembled press, with 587 patients recovering completely, the transmission trend declining and the Ministry of Health taking all necessary measures to provide the required medicines, vaccines and laboratory kits.
"The Central Public Health Laboratory in Baghdad is working 24 hours a day and each sample taken from a suspected case takes a maximum of three hours to be analyzed" said Dr Al Saidy, adding that all hospitals across the country have set up separate wards to receive suspected cases of H1N1 influenza.
Dr Syed Jaffar Hussain, WHO Representative in Iraq, stated that the mortality rate in Iraq is low compared to neighbouring countries. The health system is sensitive and strong enough to detect cases in a timely manner, enabling the government of Iraq to respond effectively and prevent the spread of disease. Dr Hussein confirmed that WHO would not declare the increased number of reported H1N1 cases as a pandemic, but would describe it as seasonal influenza.
WHO works with the Ministry of Health to build the capacity of laboratory services, train health workers, strengthen the surveillance system, design messages for community awareness and share global expertise, so that the Ministry can respond to the health needs of the people of Iraq.
The influenza virus is transmitted by coughing and sneezing and is highly contagious and fast-spreading. WHO and the Ministry of Health advise citizens to take precautionary and preventive measures such as washing hands regularly to reduce the spread of infection and to avoid crowded places.
