[ad_1]
The impoverished country of the Arabian Peninsula has become a veritable quagmire of epidemics and diseases, most recently swine flu (A / H1N1), which has spread in the northern governorates in recent days.
Akram is transferred to his brother Abdullah's home in several hospitals in the capital Sanaa, north of the capital, after suffering from symptoms of cough and fever.
For medical diagnosis, doctors talk about colds, because the temperature is almost zero.
But the symptoms multiplied and Abdullah became helpless, which prompted the two brothers to go to the hospital, "the revolution," after a doctor told them that these symptoms might be due to the "swine flu".
Read also: NYT: What is the story of the Yemeni Amal girl who aroused the feelings of the world?
In the largest hospital in Sanaa, dozens of patients are in the swine flu department, which was developed by the Ministry of Health to administer the unrecognized group "Houthi".
The group controls the provinces, including Sanaa, since September 2014, in a civil war that has lasted for more than four years, causing the collapse of living and health conditions.
After performing the medical tests for Abdullah, the nurses transferred him to the endemic epidemic section.
While standing in the hospital courtyard, Akram told Anatol that his brother's health was very critical and that he had checked whether the infection had been transmitted to him or not because he had treated his brother without protection.
Yemen witnessed a similar epidemic of swine flu outbreak in 2009 and 2010. The Ministry of Health recorded 643 cases and 33 deaths.
But his return this time seems like a disaster.
Read also: UN: We have lost the battle of famine in Yemen and cholera is spreading
Rarity of vaccines
"The recent expansion of the epidemic is due to a severe shortage of medical equipment and a serious shortage of vaccines," said Anadol, a physician at the General Revolution Hospital, supported by health and safety organizations. international health.
The doctor, who asked not to be identified, warned that if the deadly outbreak spread, the hospital could no longer absorb patients and could re-establish the cholera epidemic that struck the Yemen in 2017
According to the World Health Organization, the A / H1N1 virus spreads easily among humans, like the seasonal flu virus, and can be passed from person to person through the Exposure to droplets of the infected person during a cough, sneeze, or contact with hands or contaminated surfaces.
To prevent the spread of infection, the organization recommends that patients cover their mouths and noses when they cough or sneeze, stay home if they do not feel well, wash their hands regularly and to maintain a sufficient distance between them and the person in good health.
Read also: International warnings about the deterioration of the humanitarian and health situation in Hodeida
Sanitary disaster
The symptoms of the A / H1N1 flu resemble the signs of "seasonal flu", including fever, cough, headache, muscle and joint pain, sore throat, runny nose, vomiting and sometimes diarrhea.
This similarity has meant that hundreds of people have neglected to see a doctor, unless they collapse completely after they have been able to transmit the virus to them.
"A health disaster due to the growing number of wounded, currently 385, of which 79 have died so far," warned the Ministry of Health spokesman under the Houthi Administration, Yusuf al-Haidari .
"Dozens of people living with HIV are silently dying at home, their families are unable to provide hospital care, and some 22 million Yemenis (out of more than 29 million) are considered poor," he said.
"The ministry has no way of helping patients, especially given the great shortage of medicines and lack of resources, and the inability of international organizations to respond to repeated calls being made. by the ministry. "
"World organizations, especially the World Health Organization (WHO), have done nothing against the spread of swine flu and still play the role of spectator," he said.
The Arab coalition, under the leadership of the Saudi neighbor, bears responsibility for the epidemic.
Since March 2015, the coalition has been supporting Yemeni government forces against Huthi militants accused of receiving support from Iran.
"The siege of brutal aggression has prevented the arrival of medical drugs and vaccines," Hawari said.
Read also: The New York Times: How has the humanitarian situation in Yemen become a nightmare?
35% of children
"The epidemic has spread along with the seasonal diseases of winter and people have neglected to prevent it, bringing about 35% of infected children," said Fouad Abdel-Majid, pediatrician.
"Most children die at home before being taken to the hospital."
The outbreak of "swine flu" comes just days after the diphtheria epidemic, which killed about 160 Yemenis, including 55 children.
The cholera outbreak is spreading and about 10,000 suspected cases are reported each week, according to the World Health Organization.
The cholera killed about 2,700 Yemenis, including one third of children, and about 1.4 million people, including 657,000 children, according to the latest UN report released in late December.
The Houthi Department of Health said children were the most affected by the spread of epidemics and the low level of medical services.
In a report released earlier this week, 200,000 children were infected with malaria, 2,173 by schistosomiasis, 12,000 by smallpox and 13,000 by mumps.
A total of 3813 children were infected with dengue fever, 1847 with meningitis, 2,147 with pertussis, and 15,911 with measles.
The report also reported that 14,000 children were infected with typhoid, 45,000 with influenza, 1.3 million with upper respiratory infections and 2,400,000 children under five with infectious diseases in 2018.
[ad_2]
Source link
