No need to panic over H1N1 — ministry

AMMAN — The Health Ministry on Tuesday said the H1N1 (swine) flu is now considered a seasonal flu and there is no need to announce a state of emergency or even to register cases.

Hatem Azrui, the ministry’s spokesperson, told The Jordan Times that deaths caused by the disease do not exceed those caused by the seasonal flu, but no figures are available.

He noted that the majority of the deaths are among high-risk groups that include people who have respiratory problems, children or pregnant women.

He called on the public not to panic and to seek medical consultation once they feel the symptoms, which include diarrhoea, fever, and a sore throat.