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Ethiopians infected with H1N1 flu receive treatment : ministry

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Ethiopia
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Govt. Ethiopia
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Addis Ababa, June 19, 2009 (Addis Ababa) - The Ministry of Health said two Ethiopians, who had been in USA for cultural exchange program, were infected with H1N1 flu virus have received treatment.

In a press conference he gave here on Friday Health Minister Dr. Tewdros Adhanom said the virus has been detected while the students go through checkup on their arrival in Ethiopia on June 13, 2009.

According to Dr. Tewdros, the ministry obtained information that the students who arrived in Ethiopia on the date caught the virus while they were coming to Ethiopia with their friends who traveled to Bahrain.

The ministry had investigated and found that two of them are infected with virus while the other student confirmed free from the virus.

However, the minister said the biopsy has been sent to aboard for further checkup. He said the students have received treatment and they are in a good health.

People who had close contact with the students have been receiving medical treatment and are on follow up at St. Paulo hospital.

Dr. Tewdros said surveillance is being carried out on people who have close contact and in neighborhoods to further assess information about the virus.

The minister urged the public to immediately go to health facilities when they observe symptoms of the virus.

Preparation of a laboratory that would make diagnosis on Influenza A (H1N1) cases is well in progress. He said anti Influenza medicine that would help to treat more than 100,000 people is also being distributed.

Close monitoring and medical service would be given to the people. The minister urged the public to attentively follow up to date information on the issue.

More than 80 countries are now reporting cases of human infection with H1N1 flu. Cases of the flu are also reported in Africa in Egypt, Morocco and South Africa, according to Dr. Tewdros.

The symptoms of this new H1N1 flu virus in people include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with this new H1N1 virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting.

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