Two Palestinian women died of A/H1N1 virus in the Gaza Strip, marking the first fatalities of the disease in the Israeli-blockaded enclave, a health official said on Monday.
The two were among five cases diagnosed with the virus on Sunday, Dr. Hassan Khalaf, deputy health minister, told Xinhua, adding "the two women died last night and other three cases are recovering."
Omar al-Nasser, media director at the health ministry in the West Bank, said five patients have reported to al-Shifa hospital in Gaza city suffering from the virus, including two serious cases.
On Saturday, Hamas health officials said the patients have suffered regular flu which is common in this time of the year.
But Dr. al-Nasser said that "the coup powers (Hamas) imposes a blackout and block accurate information" to prevent his ministry from carrying out its services in Gaza.
Al-Nasser revealed that the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) had sent 6,000 vaccines to Gaza to be used for medical crews and pilgrims who had performed the annual Hajj to Mecca.
In the West Bank, 1,200 Palestinians have been infected by the A/H1N1 virus and nine of them had passed away.
On Sunday night, the Hamas government was finally prompted to announce the infections after being insisting for several months that Gaza is totally free of A/H1N1 flu.
The announcement came shortly after the Palestinian Health Ministry in the West Bank reported early Sunday the discovery of five A/H1N1 flu cases in Gaza, including two critical cases.
Omer al-Nasser, chief of Public Relations Department in the Ramallah Health Ministry slammed Hamas government for not making an immediate announcement of the infections and its insistence on saying the strip is free of A/H1N1.