Count reaches 18 for Romania's swine flu infections

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.