Romania's Cantacuzino Institute confirmed today the 18th case of swine flu infection in Romania, in a young 19-year old girl returned from the U.S. on June 14, the Health Ministry informed.
The
patient is currently hospitalized at the “Matei Bals” Institute for
infectious diseases and is under treatment with antivirals. She is in a
good state of health.
Officials opened an investigation and so far identified five persons with whom the young woman had come into contact with.
The
first nine patients infected with the virus came from the U.S. and were
already allowed to leave the hospital after being treated with
antivirals. In the following eight cases, the virus came from Canada
and the patients are still hospitalized.
Health
Minister Ion Bazac declared that the swine flu pandemic proclaimed by
the World Health Organization (WHO) is at a moderate level and that
life in our country should follow its track and the population should
not be affected.
The
ministry reminds that all those who traveled to countries affected by
the epidemics and who show swine flu symptoms go see a doctor
immediately.
The
border police and medical staff in Romania will wear protection masks
as a measure against the infection with the A/H1N1 virus, which will be
extended in the near future to clerks from the first line of contact
with the public, announced Bazac.
The
personnel of airlines coming from the countries across the ocean
affected by the A/H1N1 virus, respectively Canada, U.S. and Mexico,
will also wear masks.
The
minister added that additional measures will only be taken when the
attack rate of the virus (the percentage of the population that is
affected) is larger than 0.5 percent.
If the rate exceeds 2 percent, extreme measures such as social isolation and probably border closure will be taken.
