A 49-year-old Tel Aviv resident infected with A/H1N1 virus died in hospital, bringing the total number of the flu-related deaths in Israel to 17, local daily Ha' aretz reported on Sunday, Xinhua reported.
The man, also suffering from chronic lung and heart ailments, died Saturday, said the report, adding that it is still uncertain whether the A/H1N1 virus was the main cause of his death, yet according to the instructions of the Health Ministry, the case was added to the previous 16 deaths related to this global epidemic.
Latest data from the health authorities showed that 2,670 cases of the A/H1N1 flu have been confirmed across the nation. However, experts believe that many others have also contracted the virus and then healed on their own.
Israeli health experts have warned that about one quarter of the total Israeli population, or some 1.8 million people, would contract the virus during a possible outbreak this winter, among whom around 700 would die. The Israeli government has initiated a plan for precaution, including purchasing a large quantity of vaccines.
Israel reports 17th A/H1N1-related death
A 49-year-old Tel Aviv resident infected with A/H1N1 virus died in hospital, bringing the total number of the flu-related deaths in Israel to 17, local daily Ha' aretz reported on Sunday.
