‘47-year-old dies of H1N1 flu’

AMMAN – A 47-year-old man died on Wednesday of H1N1 (swine) flu in Southern Shuneh Hospital, Al Rai daily reported.

Hospital Director Fayez Kharabsheh said the man was admitted to hospital for 24 hours and was in critical condition. 

The Jordan Times could not reach officials from the Health Ministry for more details on the incident.

In April 2015, six Jordanians were admitted to Prince Feisal Hospital and were diagnosed with swine flu, treated accordingly and discharged after making a full recovery.

Around a week before that incident, the Lower House’s Health Committee affirmed that the Kingdom is witnessing a decline in the number of H1N1 cases, citing the Weekly Influenza Surveillance Overview.

The committee urged the public to disregard rumours on H1N1flu that aim at misleading opinion and serving personal agendas.

The panel also called on media outlets to avoid exaggeration and be precise and accurate in their coverage of the H1N1.

By April, the authorities had registered 348 cases of H1N1 and 13 related fatalities — nine involving Jordanians.

Health authorities said the disease has become a regular seasonal flu and called for changing social practices, such as kissing at social occasions, as a way to limit the spread of H1N1.

Symptoms of H1N1 generally include fever, coughing and a sore throat, with possible vomiting and diarrhoea among children, according to the Health Ministry.