In Brief: Afghan government seeks more funds as H1N1 cases proliferate

Photo: Akmal Dawi/IRIN

The health ministry has advised people to use masks in public places in order to reduce H1N1 infections

KABUL, 8 November 2009 (IRIN) - Over 400 new cases of H1N1 influenza and eight fatalities have been reported in Afghanistan since 3 November, according to the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH). In total, 772 people (456 Afghans and 316 foreigners) have been infected by the virus in the country, the MoPH said.

“The pandemic H1N1 has killed 10 Afghans over the past two weeks,” Farid Raaid, MoPH’s spokesman, told IRIN on 8 November.

The country declared a health emergency on 1 November and since then all schools and universities have been closed.

The MoPH has also increased its appeal for funding to combat the pandemic influenza to US$125 million. Raaid said no funds had been received as of 8 November but said the World Health Organisation had pledged 550,000 doses of H1N1 vaccines.

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