The Humanitarian Update is a monthly publication from UN OCHA's Regional Office in Dubai, reporting on the main humanitarian events in the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia. For more information on Iraq or OPT, please visit www.ochairaq.org and www.ochaopt.org
H1N1 "Swine Flu"
As of 3 October 2009, 12,861 laboratory-confirmed cases of Pandemic (H1N1) were reported to WHO by 21 out of 22 Member States of WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region1 .A total of 815 of these reported cases were locally transmitted. There are 80 related deaths from Pandemic (H1N1), so far, from the Region. These deaths were reported from Bahrain (4), Egypt (2), Iraq (2), Islamic Republic of Iran (6), Kuwait (7), Lebanon (2), Oman (21), Palestine (1), Saudi Arabia (28), Syrian Arab Republic (2), Qatar (1) and Yemen (4). Algeria reported 47 cases with no deaths. For more information please visit http://www.emro.who.int/csr/h1n1
Measures to counter H1N1 flu
The authorities of numerous countries within the region have decided to postpone the start of the academic year of primary and secondary schools, some extended closure to universities. In Egypt, with almost 900 confirmed cases, authorities ordered all schools and universities to close until October 3 in order to slow the spread of pandemic influenza. Officials in Saudi Arabia closed all middle and high schools until October 10 and all kindergartens, primary schools and special needs schools until October 17. WHO is issuing advice on measures that can be undertaken in schools to reduce the impact of the H1N1 influenza pandemic. Recommendations draw on recent experiences in several countries as well as studies of the health, economic, and social consequences of school closures. For more information please visit www.who.int