MUSCAT, 20 November 2003 — Oman has stepped up safety procedures to counter the possible threat of West Nile Fever.

The Health Ministry has alerted the departments concerned to keep a close watch on all suspicious cases and told doctors to conduct tests for the disease when investigating cases of aseptic meningitis, encephalitis or any unknown fever.

An equine form of West Nile Fever was detected in March this year.

But officials stress that there are no known infections of humans to date, according to a report published by the state-run Oman Daily Observer yesterday.

Following the limited outbreak in horses, Oman’s National Zoonotic Diseases Committee met to consider a possible response to any occurrence of the disease in humans.

The committee, represented by officials from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, agreed to conduct small sample surveys to detect virus antibodies, if any, in animals and people.

West Nile virus, first discovered in 1937 in Uganda, is a mosquito-borne viral infection that in severe cases can cause inflammation of the brain.

Russia Visit: Sheikh Hamoud ibn Abdullah Al-Harthy, president of the State Council, the upper house of Oman’s Parliament, will visit Russia next year.

According to a statement released by the Oman News Agency, Sheikh Al-Harthy was invited by the president of the Union Council of Russia.

“Exchange of visits is important to boost parliamentary cooperation between the two countries,” Sheikh Al-Harthy said.

The invitation was delivered by Russian Ambassador Vladimir Nosenko. “The meeting also discussed regional and global issues and developments and subjects of mutual concern.”

Sources told Arab News that Sheikh Al-Harthy, who is on his third successive term in the post, will be accompanied by a delegation comprising a number of council members.

“The visit is expected to take place in May or August, after the presidential elections in March in Russia,” a source said.

A delegation of leading Omani businessmen is due to visit Russia on Dec. 7 for four days to boost commercial and trade links between the two countries.

The State Council (Majlis Addawla) was reconstituted by Sultan Qaboos recently, raising its strength to 57, including seven women.