The death of five people from the A H1N1 influenza in Morocco has raised fears over a possible outbreak after the health ministry confirmed that several people, who have caught the virus, have also been hospitalized.
Asharq Al-Awsat learned that several follow up committees have been formed across the country’s provinces and the government has come up with a program on ways to avoid contacting the virus also known as swine flu.
Principals have also informed parents not to send their children to school if they have flu-like symptoms.
Health Minister Anas Doukkali confirmed in remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat that at least five people have died in Morocco after contracting H1N1.
They died as a result of complications caused by the virus but they were already medically fragile, he said.
The minister insisted that Morocco would not declare a national emergency, saying the number of cases were limited.
Doukkali told Asharq Al-Awsat that many people die from seasonal flu each year, mainly the elderly, pregnant women, children, asthma patients and smokers.
“The best means of confrontation is prevention,” he said.
A health ministry source said that Morocco has received the first batch, around 1,000 boxes, of the antiviral drug Tamiflu, and that it will gradually get delivered the rest of the 15,000 boxes in stages.
