Flu hits two Bahrain schools

Two high school students have fallen victim to swine flu only days after their return to classrooms. The Education Ministry has announced.

'A boy and a girl have been referred to health centres for H1N1 treatment,' said public relations and media director Dr Nabeel Al Asoomi.

Students likely to be contaminated through close contact with these two victims have been referred to health centres for check-ups.

Classrooms where the two cases were detected have also been sterilised.

According to preventive measures approved by education and health ministries, classrooms will be closed when three cases are confirmed.

Meanwhile, Bahrain yesterday urged the global monopoly on medicine and vaccines to be broken.

Health Minister Dr Faisal Al Hamer made the plea at the opening session of the WHO-East Mediterran-ean regional Committee in Fez, Morocco.

He advocated regional bulk purchase of vaccines and medicine to circumvent the monopoly.