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Turkish health minister holds press conference on first swine flu case

16 May 2009 11:48 (UTC +04:00)

Ankara-APA. Turkey identified its first case of H1N1 swine flu in an American man of Iraqi origin, Health Minister Recep Akdag told reporters at an Istanbul news conference.

The U.S. citizen, flying from the United States via Amsterdam was found to be suffering from the H1N1 virus after arriving at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport en route to Iraq.

Thermal cameras set up at the Istanbul airport had detected the man had a high fever, and tests at the national laboratory revealed he was carrying the H1N1 virus, he said.

The 26-year-old and six family members were under observation in a Turkish Haseki Research Hospital and were being given anti-viral medication, Recep Akdag noted.

The patient’s family members would be held in isolation at Istanbul’s Haseki Hospital until May 21 to determine whether they too are suffering from swine flu, because the virus takes up to a week to manifest itself, Akdag said.

"The man’s general health situation is good," he added.