Health ministry confirms second deadly swine flu case in Turkey

No other members of the family are infected with the virus, the health ministry said in a written statement. However, earlier reports had suggested the wife of the 27-year-old Iraqi-born man, known only as S.S.A, had also contracted the H1N1 virus.Â

 

The infected passenger and his mother were immediately isolated before coming into contact with any other individuals at the airport and they are currently receiving treatment, the statement added.

 

The Health Ministry also said that most passengers on board the Dutch Airlines, KLM flight 1613, traveling from Amsterdam to Istanbul on May 14, have been contacted and none of them have so far shown any symptoms of the virus.

 

"These people (the other passengers) are currently receiving preventive medications," the ministry said.

 

The ministry also reiterated its call to passengers that have not been reached by officials, and asks them to immediately contact the "112" emergency hotline.

 

EARLY RELEASE LIKELY

Mehmet Bakar, the head of Istanbul Provincial Health Unit, said the infected patients would be held until May 21, in accordance with the initial directive received from the Health Ministry, Dogan News Agency reported on Sunday.

 

"But they may be released in three days since their general health is good. We are not sure at this stage. We are acting in accordance with the ministry's directives," he added.

 

Bakar also said that 110 passengers traveling on the same flight as the infected have been contacted and that none showed any sign of infection, adding that the authorities were still attempting to contact eight others.

 

"We have no information, whether they are in our country or not," he was also quoted as saying by DHA.Â

 

TURKEY 37TH NATION

Turkey has installed 27 thermal cameras at its borders and in airports to monitor all new arrivals for symptoms of the deadly swine flu virus.

 

Turkey is the 37th country in the world to report an incident of swine flu. The United States, followed by Mexico, where the epidemic began, have recorded the highest number of cases.

 

Nearly 8,500 people in 39 countries have been infected with A(H1N1), according to the latest figures released by the WHO.

 

More than 70 people have died from the virus -- all of them in the Americas and nearly all of them in Mexico, where the new strain of swine flu was first detected less than a month ago.