JERUSALEM (JTA) — The Palestinian Authority suffered its first swine flu fatality.
A Palestinian man, 34, died Friday night in Ramallah after contracting the H1N1 virus during a pilgrimage to Mecca, according to reports. Some 80 Palestinians reportedly have contracted swine flu.
The Palestinian Authority Health Ministry has warned Palestinians to avoid travel to the hajj in Mecca to stop the spread of the virus.
Nearly 2,000 Israelis reportedly have come down with the virus; five have died. Some 15 were hospitalized in serious condition with the virus as of Sunday.
Israel over the weekend signed a $1.8 million contract with a French company to supply every Israeli with a vaccine for the virus by January, Ha’aretz reported.
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