The Hamas-run Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip on Saturday said that influenza A/H1N1 might reach the Israeli-blockaded territory but the possibilities still remain low due to the embargo.

The warning was made after eight A/H1N1 virus cases were registered in the West Bank, most of them involved people who returned from the United States.

"We are carrying out the necessary preventive measures but the Israeli blockade and the isolation of Gaza from the outside world make the spread of the virus unlikely," Hassan Khalaf, deputy Health Minister, told Xinhua.

He added that the Health Ministry had set up two medical checkpoints near Erez crossing to examine people travelling to the West Bank and Israel and at Rafah crossing point between Gaza and Egypt.

There are no pigs in the Gaza Strip but fear still remain since numerous solidarity delegations from the US and Europe are visiting the territory to inspect the damage made by Israeli military during January offensive.

According to Khalaf, the Health Ministry had bought the necessary equipment and drugs to fight the A/H1N1 virus from Ramallah in coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Israeli closure has been in force since June 2007.

(Xinhua News Agency June 21, 2009)