"PANDEMIC" POTENTIAL
Israeli health authorities confirmed two cases of swine flu on Tuesday, signaling the spread of the virus from Mexico to the Middle East. The WHO has warned it has "pandemic" potential.
The 26-year-old man Tomer Vajim and a 47-year-old man, both of whom traveled back from Mexico, were diagnosed positive to the H1N2 virus after quarantine at hospital.
Israeli Health Ministry said Vajim was listed in a stable condition, but remained in hospital for observation, while the 47-year-old man is being kept in isolation while being treated.
Israeli health authorities fear that a third case of swine flu may have been discovered.
A 5-year-old niece of Tomer Vajim was undergoing tests to determine whether she had also contracted the virus, the website of Ha'aretz daily reported.
The hospital said the girl was in the children's ward and that she was in a good condition. She was admitted after suffering from a high temperature, sore throat and other flu-like symptoms.
A possible fourth victim is a 9-year-old boy who was on a flight from Newark of the United States, which landed in Israel two days ago carrying the second confirmed swine flu patient, said Ha'aretz.
The boy has been hospitalized in the children's hospital Dana in Tel Aviv after coming down with flu symptoms. Blood samples will be delivered to the WHO to determine whether he had contracted the virus.
