Dr. Samira Ibrahim, director of the Beni Suef Preventive Medicine Department, said 42 cases were reported with the H1N1 influenza virus and the regular H1A3 influenza virus.
She added that tests detected four cases of swine flu among them and another four of ordinary flu, while the rest were discharged from the hospitals.
She also said that three cases died of pneumonia and an 8-month-old baby died of a hole in the heart, but samples taken from them showed that they were not infected with swine flu.
A source speaking on condition of anonymity said the ministry sent a strongly-worded letters to the officials in all governorates, asking them not to give statements to the media about diseases or deaths.
The source also said that hospitals are not equipped to treat those diseases, and that doctors have to buy vaccines from private pharmacies at high costs to protect themselves, although the Health Ministry said those vaccines are available at public hospitals.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
