Zichron Yaakov Woman Succumbs to Flu

Yet another flu-related tragedy has hit the chareidi community in Israel. A 46-year-old woman, from Zichron Yaakov, who was hospitalized in northern Israel, passed away Monday night from complications due to her contracting the flu. She leaves, ybl”c, a husband and five yesomim.

The woman was rushed to Hillel Yafeh Hospital in Hadera on Monday morning after complaining of feeling ill. Her health deteriorated quickly, despite efforts by doctors throughout the day to stem the spread of the severe case of the flu she was suffering from.

She is the sixth person to succumb to the flu so far this season. Doctors did not announce what kind of flu she was suffering from, but the country has been in the grip of a wide outbreak of the deadly H1N1 virus flu. Dozens of people are in Israeli hospitals suffering from the disease, and a number of the flu deaths have been attributed to the H1N1 strain.

Last week, a 35-year-old woman passed away from complications attributed to the virus at Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikvah. The victim was a mother of five from the chareidi community in Petach Tikvah. Family members said that after she was hospitalized, doctors recommended that they be inoculated against H1N1 – indicating that they may have suspected she was suffering from that disease.

Rabbanim have stated that receiving an H1N1 inoculation is a matter of pikuach nefesh and all individuals whose doctors approve of their receiving the inoculation, should do so.

Women, especially those expectant, are among the most at risk of contracting the disease, medical officials said.

H1N1 made headlines in Israel and worldwide in 2009, when health authorities prepared for an epidemic that thankfully did not materialize. However, there were a significant number of cases then, and the disease resurfaces each winter.