ایرن‏آن

Swine Flu Cases Rising in Iran

The number of swine flu cases in Iran rose to 85, the health ministry announced on Sunday, warning that the number of patients infected with the A(H1N1) virus will increase during the cold season. 
  

"All the infected people in Iran have been or are cured through home-rest and usual cares and without being hospitalized or receiving special medication," Managing Director of the Health Ministry's Public Relations Department Abbas Zare'nejad .

Zare'nejad reiterated that those who have just recently been infected are presently under treatment, and assured that swine flu has taken no toll in Iran.

The health ministry has urged citizens to hold off on their traditionally warm greetings, foregoing hugs and kisses to tourists returning from other countries to contain the spread of infection.

According to Iranian health officials, the confirmed cases of swine flue infection include individuals returning from the hajj pilgrimage and trips to Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Syria, Iraq and the US.

Swine flu is a contagious respiratory disease which is a mixture of bird, pig and human genes. The virus can spread to people who have contact with infected pigs. It spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes around someone else. People can become infected by touching something with the flu virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose, or eyes.

People can't get swine flu from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly cooked pork is safe. Cooking meat to an internal temperature of 160°F kills viruses and bacteria.

Symptoms of swine flu are similar to the common flu: fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue, and sometimes diarrhea and vomiting. Swine flu also can cause pneumonia, which can make it hard to breathe.