Israeli woman dies, 8 others hospitalized, after contracting swine flu

An Israeli woman died and eight others are hospitalized after being infected with swine flu, a spokesperson for the Israeli Health Ministry confirmed on Thursday.

A 50-year old woman who was hospitalized at the Belinson hospital in Petah Tikva in central Israel died on the night between Wednesday and Thursday after contracting the disease, the Health Ministry said in a statement.

She was admitted to the hospital a month ago, whose condition had deteriorated since. She had also suffered from other illnesses.

Eight other women are hospitalized across the country because of the infection, known medically as Influenza A virus subtype H1N1, three of them are in serious condition. One of the hospitalized women is pregnant.

The ministry urged the public to get vaccination, amid the abnormal amount of cases.

Prof. Nati Keller, head of the Clinical Microbiology and Immunology Department, told the Ynet news website that vaccinations will prevent the public from contracting this flu strain.

"The flu began rearing its head about a week ago and the strains found are covered by the vaccines," he told the website. "Those who received the vaccine recommended by the Health Ministry are most likely protected," he added.

This type of flue came to its prominence in 2009. During that year 96 Israelis have died from the disease, to which the elderly, children and pregnant women are especially susceptible. Endit