No New MERS Cases in Greece – Man Home from Gulf Clear

Article via Greek Reporter :

" A Greek man who returned to Athens from the Persian Gulf tested negative Tuesday for the deadly respiratory disease MERS, which has killed dozens of patients in Saudi Arabia. The 70-year-old was being treated in a negative-pressure room at Sotiria Hospital in Athens. 

According to authorities two other people who were diagnosed with MERS-like symptoms also tested negative to the virus. The only confirmed case of the deadly respiratory disease is a 69-year old Greek man, permanent resident of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, who returned to Greece on April 17 and has been in hospital since and is still in a critical condition. 

He is in a special negative-pressure isolation chamber for contagious respiratory diseases, while a spot at an intensive care unit is being made available, in case his condition deteriorates further. Doctors are using an experimental drug to deal with the patient’s condition."

Greek death toll from flu hits 94

Via Ekathimerini :

" The influenza-related death toll in Greece reached 94 on Monday, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KEELPNO), which has been closely observing a spike in the number of cases of the virulent H1N1 strain this year.

KEELPNO said on Monday that 94 people have died since the start of the flu season this year and 47 are currently undergoing treatment at intensive-care facilities.

It added that a total of 261 have been hospitalized due to the flu, stressing that most fatalities occurred among patients with other underlying chronic illnesses." 

Deaths from flu rise to 79 in Greece, experts fear more cases

Via Xinhua :

" The outbreak of the flu in Greece has reached alarming levels with fatalities rising to 79 this winter, according to the latest data released on Wednesday.

Within the last 24 hours five patients who had been diagnosed with the H1N1 flu strain, died from complications, according to health authorities.

According to experts of the Greek Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KEELPNO), most victims were suffering from some underlying diseases, while they had not been vaccinated.

Only a third of Greeks belonging to high-risk groups has been immunized this year, according to estimates. Lack of funds in the health system and incapability of people to pay for the anti-flu shots let them exposed to the flu."

40 Greeks Dead from H1N1 Virus

Via Greek Reporter :

" The flu virus (H1N1) is showing an alarming upsurge. There have been 40 fatalities due to the virus, two of which were small children, while a total of 143 people appear to be infected and have been hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU). At the moment 59 people are being hospitalized in the ICU.

Furthermore, according to recent news, three more people have been admitted in the ICU (two in the Venizelio hospital in Crete and one in Sotiria Hospital in Athens) and it is quite possible that they have the flu virus. However, in order to confirm this information, the hospitals need to conduct more laboratory testing."

Greece : Infant dies of H1N1 flu

Via Ekathimerini :

" A seven-and-a-half month Lybian baby diagnosed with the H1N1 virus died in Athens on Friday.

The infant was being treated at the intensive care unit of the Aghia Sofia children’s hospital in Athens, Skai reported on Friday. According to the medical facility’s staff the infant had been infected with the virus before entering Greece."

UK : Holidaymakers warned after six struck by malaria in Greece

Via Daily Mail, excerpt :

" Holidaymakers travelling to Greece have been warned to protect against mosquito bites after six people were struck by malaria.

The cases - five Greek adults and a Roma child - have all been reported since June this year and were seen in people who had no history of travel to a country where malaria is common, according to the Health Protection Agency (HPA).

There have been no deaths and all six patients are recovering, an agency spokeswoman added.

The cases were identified in the districts of Laconia, in the south of the Peloponnese peninsula, and the island of Euboea, east of the Greek mainland - areas of marshy wetland where mosquitoes are common.

The Greek authorities have stepped up malaria surveillance in these areas, intensifying local mosquito control programmes and raising awareness among doctors and the general public.

Health officials warned that holidaymakers should take precautions to avoid being bitten."

Greece : Greek officials on alert over swine flu death toll

An article from France 24 :

" Health officials in Greece on Monday warned the public to remain vigilant against swine flu that has so far killed 93 people, pointing to low vaccination ratios and suggesting the elderly are more at risk.

"The country is going through a phase of high seasonal flu activity," the state centre for disease control (Keelpno) said in a statement, adding that the potentially deadly H1N1 virus strain was "predominant".

It noted that 126 people were currently in hospital with confirmed flu symptoms and that only a small number of health staff and high risk groups had taken vaccines."

6 More H1N1 Victims Die Over Last 24 Hours in Greece

Via Greek Reporter :

" Six people lost their lives in the last 24 hours due to complications caused by the influenza A (H1N1), increasing the number of total fatalities in Greece to 33.

In a statement, the Ministry of Health emphasized the need for hygiene, vaccination and antiviral medication."

Greece : H1N1 virus claims six more lives

Via Ekathimerini :

" Two more people in Greece have died from the H1N1 virus, Deputy Health Minister Michalis Timosidis said on Monday.

The total number of people in Greece who have died from the virus during the current flu season now stands at 21.

There are also 45 people who contracted the virus being treated in intensive-care units."

Greece Reports 6 Deaths from A/H1N1 Flu

Via CRI English :

" Greek Health Ministry officials announced on Monday that six confirmed fatalities have been reported across the country so far this year because of the A/H1N1 flu.

Despite the fact that all the deaths occurred over the past week, experts of the Greek Center for Disease Control and Prevention said that the toll is within expectations, as the seasonal flu which contains the dangerous virus strain spreads.

The latest and youngest victim this year is a 14-year-old girl in Athens. For precaution reasons the high school she attended closed down on Monday."

3 Confirmed Swine Flu (H1N) Cases in Greece

Via Greek Reporter :

" Three cases of Flu – H1N1 have been confirmed in Greece, state television NET reported today. The three cases of the flu, also known as Swine flu, have been located on one of the Cyclades islands.

It has not been revealed whether the patients are Greeks or tourists.Scientists are reassuring, stressing that three cases were not enough to hit alarm. They noticed that the flu was expected to reach Greece this winter as it had done in other countries.

This winter the swine flu has claimed the lives of 1o people in the U.K. and the lives of three in Germany."