CAIRO: Twelve out of 15 swimmers and their coach infected with swine flu from the Zamalek club’s junior swimming team are scheduled to leave Imbaba Fevers Hospital today after receiving treatment, said Sabry Serag, the club’s spokesperson.
The swimmers – ranging between 11­-12 years old – were participating in a Cairo open swimming tournament at Al-Ahly club last week when one player tested positive for the H1N1 virus during the tournament.
Following the tournament that brought together more than 4,000 swimmers, tests at the Ministry of Health’s laboratories revealed that the rest of the team and their coach were also infected.
“The swimmers’ condition is perfect now and they are all expected to leave the hospital in the next couple of days, Serag told Daily News Egypt.
The rest of the teams, as well as their parents and friends, were also tested and four cases tested positive so far.
Following the incident, Yasser Idris, head of the Egyptian Swimming Federation, decided to call off the national water polo league that was scheduled for last Monday.
However, health officials confirmed that water isn’t a carrier for the virus.
“There is no need to close the clubs where the infected cases were found, Abdel Rahman Shahin, spokesperson of the Ministry of Health told the press, explaining that closing down swimming pools is up to the clubs’ administrations.
However, Serag said that there will be no extra measures taken at the club besides the Ministry of Health’s general instructions regarding crowded places and good ventilation.
