JEDDAH: A delegation from the World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday inspected precautionary measures taken by Saudi health authorities to prevent a swine flu outbreak ahead of the peak pilgrimage season.

The inspection tour, which came ahead of an international workshop on the disease in Jeddah, covered King Abdulaziz International Airport and Jeddah Islamic Port, the main gateways for the pilgrims, as well as the Regional Health Laboratory.

Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah will inaugurate the workshop at Jeddah Hilton today. Twenty experts from the WHO and the US Centers for Diseases Control will attend the workshop along with health officials from all Saudi regions.

Dr. Ziyad Maymash, one of the organizers of the workshop, said the event was aimed at studying methods of creating awareness, providing treatment and ways of preventing the disease.

He said the Health Ministry would leave no stone unturned to ensure protection for Saudis and expatriate residents from the disease.

Khaled Al-Mirghalani, Health Ministry spokesman, told Arab News that the workshop is being organized by the ministry on the directive of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.

“Experts will enlighten participants on the increasing incidence of swine flu cases in the world and the illness’ impact on the Kingdom,” he said.

Six more swine flu cases were reported yesterday in Baha and Riyadh, bringing the tally to 62. The new cases include a 56-year-old Saudi man in Baha, and a 23-year-old Saudi woman, three Filipinos aged 25, 27 and 28, and a 29-year-old Yemeni man in Riyadh.

Al-Mirghalani said the workshop would also focus on measures to be taken in view of the large influx of pilgrims for Haj and Umrah. It will explore ways of formulating a set of preventive measures to combat the disease during the Haj and Umrah seasons.

Maymash said monitoring infections is the appropriate measure. He said this was carried out by observing people entering the country.

People showing suspicious symptoms should be examined, kept in isolation and treated if found to have the virus, the official said.

The Health Department in Makkah will hold a training program on the swine flu virus at Hera General Hospital. The program will focus on the symptoms of the disease as well as diagnosing and treating the illness.

Meanwhile, a forum on skin and contagious diseases will be held at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry tomorrow. A large number of researchers and experts from the Kingdom and abroad will take part in the forum.

Ayman Tamar, head of the health awareness program, put annual spending on skin diseases at more than SR1 billion. “This is the first time such a forum is being organized in the Kingdom,” Tamar said.