MANAMA: Bahraini authorities yesterday assured members of the public that all of the country’s entry and exit points were being closely monitored to prevent swine flu from entering.
This follows reports that several Saudis canceled or postponed their trip to Bahrain after news that the island’s first confirmed case of swine flu was detected on Monday.
“We have stepped up vigil at all of the island’s entry and exit points. Officials at the King Fahd Causeway are also taking all precautionary measures such as wearing gloves and masks,” a Health Ministry spokesperson said.
Many Saudi families who planned to visit the island during the weekend have canceled or postponed trips. “When I heard about swine flu in Bahrain on the radio, I canceled my trip. There are several other Saudis who retuned to Dammam immediately after the news broke,” said Nasser Salim.
The General Organization of the King Fahd Causeway is coordinating with the Bahraini Health Ministry, and has set up an isolation room to quarantine any H1N1 virus cases.
Multilingual swine flu brochures are also being distributed at the causeway and Bahrain International Airport to educate travelers.
In addition to this, travelers are being asked to fill out mandatory forms specifying which countries they have recently visited.
Meanwhile, the island’s first case of swine flu, a 21-year-old Bahraini student, is recovering. “In later tests, he tested negative which means he is responding to the treatment. He will be kept in the isolation ward for the next couple of days,” the spokesperson said.
