13th swine flu victim dies in Tzrifin

27-year-old Vered Bason who was obese and a heavy smoker, was also infected with H1N1 flu virus.

By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH
Vered Bason swine flu death 248 88 (photo credit: Channel 2)
Vered Bason swine flu death 248 88
(photo credit: Channel 2)
A 27-year-old woman who was obese, was a heavy smoker and also was infected with H1N1 flu virus died Sunday morning at Assaf Harofeh Medical Center in Tzrifin. Complications from the flu were given as the cause of death in addition to Vered Bason's existing health problems. She was listed by the Health Ministry as the 13th Israeli to succumb to the new flu strain. Meanwhile, MK Ophir Paz-Pines has written to Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar to offer H1N1 flu vaccine - if and when it becomes available - to school and kindergarten teachers so they do not get infected or infect children cooped up in classrooms during the fall and winter. The Israel Pediatric Association has issued guidelines to parents on how - "without panic" - to protect their children from flu infection. Children who suffer from chronic lung or respiratory disease, diabetes, a weakened immune system, obesity, a chronic metabolic or kidney disorder or are treated chronically with aspirin are at higher risk of complications from H1N1 flu. If they develop a fever or other flu symptoms, they should be taken to the doctor. But children who are not at high risk but develop such symptoms should remain at home and be treated for them. They need not go to the doctor if the flu is mild. If a classmate came to school sneezing or coughing often or is feverish or complains of a sore throat, it is "not telling tales" to inform the teacher but a way to protect the other children, the association said on Sunday. Children should be encouraged to wash their hands with soap and water often and dry them with paper towels, sneeze or cough into disposable tissues (or without them, into the inside of the elbow) and not to touch their eyes, noses or mouths unless they have been washed. Parents should put packets of tissues into kids' schoolbags. If a child with the flu has been prescribed the anti-viral drugs Tamiflu or Relenza and developed side effects such as nausea, vomiting or others, report them to the Web site www.adr.org.il. This will help the Health Ministry make decisions, as these drugs have not been in wide use on Israeli children and some of their side effects are not known, the association said.