JEDDAH: Passengers on two Saudi Arabian Airlines flights who traveled with a Saudi student infected with swine flu have tested negative for H1N1 virus, said Dr. Adel Turkistani, director of preventive medicine at the Health Directorate in Jeddah.
Speaking to Arab News, he said he obtained a list of passengers who traveled on SV032 and SV1108 along with a Saudi student, who contracted the disease while in the United States.
“Some of these passengers contacted our department in response to a call made by the Ministry of Health,” Turkistani said. He refused to disclose how many passengers were on the two Saudia flights and which Saudi cities they reside in.
“We asked the passengers whether they had observed any symptoms of the disease including high temperature,” he said. “We have instructed the passengers that if they observe any symptoms they should report to the nearest health center for check ups,” he said.
A preventive health team took samples from passengers. “All tests conducted on the passengers have been found negative,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry has started providing treatment to the Saudi student who tested positive for H1N1 virus after conducting necessary medical tests. Ministry officials also conducted tests on all people who the youth met after arriving at King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah last Saturday from Washington on Saudia flight SV032.
He later boarded another Saudia flight SV1108 to Dammam. So far only two swine flu cases have been reported in the Kingdom. The first victim was a Filipina nurse at King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh.
