3 New Swine Flu Cases Detected in Kingdom

RIYADH: Three more cases of swine flu were detected in the Kingdom bringing the total number of infected patients in the country to 11, the Ministry of Health said yesterday.

“The new cases are being detected since we have an efficient team of officials working at the Ministry of Health’s Preventive Medicine Department that is constantly monitoring developments concerning the disease,” Health Ministry spokesman Dr. Khalid Al-Mirghalani told Arab News yesterday.

The latest detection includes a case of a Mauritanian coming from Canada via the United Arab Emirates.


He was found to have been carrying the virus during a checkup at Prince Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz Airport in Madinah. The other two cases are those of a three-year-old boy and a seven-year-old girl.

Al-Mirghalani said that the Mauritanian is quarantined at King Fahd Hospital in Madinah, while the other two children are at Riyadh Armed Forces Hospital (RAFH).

In neighboring Bahrain, seven students who returned from US on Saturday tested positive for the HINI virus last night. The Bahraini delegation, which consisted of 13 students were part of a 10-month US student exchange program.

“The students are under 20 and have mild traces of swine flu. They underwent a series of tests which were positive and will be kept in the isolation ward of the Salmaniya Medical Complex for the next couple of weeks,” a Bahraini Health Ministry spokesperson told Arab News.

Al-Mirghalani told Arab News that considering the nature of the disease, people should take extra precaution in controlling the spread of pollutants.

“In case of flu symptoms after visiting infected countries, it is imperative to report to the doctors immediately,” Al-Mirghalani said.

Addressing a press conference at the headquarters of the Ministry of Health yesterday, Dr. Khaled Al-Zahrani, assistant deputy minister of preventive medicine, said the 20 health regions in the Kingdom are placed on alert and are organizing awareness programs about the virus in their respective areas.

He added that health officials working for community medicine, primary health care centers, and airports are being trained to deal with any problems related to the disease.

“We have also made arrangements to screen incoming Haj and Umrah pilgrims, stored adequate quantities of medicines to meet emergency situations, and have equipped laboratories to carry out special tests to identify the disease,” Al-Zahrani said.

He said the Health Ministry has set up a toll free line (800 249 4444) to respond to queries from the public on matters related to swine flu.

Inquiries from callers are treated with strict confidentiality. Experienced doctors in the relevant field will assist the callers in clarifying matters related to the disease.

On Thursday, the World Health Organization declared swine flu a pandemic. Since it first emerged in late April in North America, swine flu has reached 74 countries, infecting nearly 29,000 people.

 
Mohammed Rasooldeen - Arab News