The Ministry of Public Health in Afghanistan confirmed eleven deaths due to the fast spreading Swine Flue which has forced the closure of Afghan public places and educational institutes for three weeks.
Addressing a press conference in Kabul Afghan Health Minister, Muhammad Amin Fatimi, warned of more deaths from the flue if serious steps are not taken to fight the virus H1N1 responsible for this kind of flue.
All schools, colleges and Universities and other educational institutes in Afghanistan have been closed till further notice due to the increasing concerns about the flue. The government has also requested the Afghan public to avoid going to the crowded places and avoid Public gatherings like marriages and other ceremonies. In fact, a ban has been placed on all the hotels and wedding halls.
With regards to the current political turmoil in the wake of declaration of final results of a fraud kinked elections, the opposition political workers thought the government is making use of this excuse to avoid public gatherings and protests against Karzai’s reincarnation scheduled for November 19. They believe it has been used as political card rather than a public warning due to such influenza. However, the resulting 11 deaths can’t be rejected. In deed, an Afghan woman hailing from the southern Province of Helmand named Latifa Bibi died of this virus in Peshawar’s Hospital a couple of days ago. The political scenario was strongly rejected by the sitting Minister and urged that special steps should be taking in fighting off this virus.
Health Ministry reported a total of 779 cases of Swine Flue all over Afghanistan with 404 of them only in Kabul.