Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered health
authorities to buy enough A-H1N1 swine influenza vaccine for the entire
Israeli population.
Mr. Netanyahu's office said buying vaccines for the more than seven million people in Israel will cost at least $115 million.
The announcement comes just days after Israeli health officials confirmed the country's first death from the swine flu virus.
Health officials said Monday a 35-year-old Israeli man died from complications from the virus over the weekend in the resort city of Eilat.
Israeli officials have confirmed more than 1,000 cases of the virus in the country.
Also this week, Saudi Arabia announced its first death from the swine flu virus. The country is working to take measures to reduce the spread of the virus at this year's Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca.
More than two-million Muslim pilgrims attended last year's Hajj, but it is not yet clear how new restrictions will affect attendance at the Hajj in November.
According to the World Health Organization, more than 800 people worldwide have died from the swine flu virus.
Last month, the WHO declared the first pandemic in more than 40 years because of the way the virus has spread around the globe.
Mr. Netanyahu's office said buying vaccines for the more than seven million people in Israel will cost at least $115 million.
The announcement comes just days after Israeli health officials confirmed the country's first death from the swine flu virus.
Health officials said Monday a 35-year-old Israeli man died from complications from the virus over the weekend in the resort city of Eilat.
Israeli officials have confirmed more than 1,000 cases of the virus in the country.
Also this week, Saudi Arabia announced its first death from the swine flu virus. The country is working to take measures to reduce the spread of the virus at this year's Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca.
More than two-million Muslim pilgrims attended last year's Hajj, but it is not yet clear how new restrictions will affect attendance at the Hajj in November.
According to the World Health Organization, more than 800 people worldwide have died from the swine flu virus.
Last month, the WHO declared the first pandemic in more than 40 years because of the way the virus has spread around the globe.