RIYADH: Two Saudis and three foreigners, all men, were diagnosed with swine flu, the Health Ministry reported yesterday, bringing the total of reported swine flu cases in the Kingdom to 165. As of yesterday 147 of these people have recovered. There have been no known fatalities from the virus.
The five new cases all involve people who have had contact with previous swine flu patients. Health authorities maintain their advice that relatives of swine flu patients should stay away from their sick loved ones until they recover in isolation wards.
Health Ministry spokesman Khalid Mirghalani said the National Committee For the Prevention of Swine Flu, headed by Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, is currently engaged in implementing a series of preventive programs throughout the Kingdom.
Considering the influx of pilgrims during the holy month of Ramadan, the committee is implementing a separate program for Umrah and Haj pilgrims who will visit the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.
A quarantine facility has been arranged at airport arrival lounges to segregate Haj and Umrah pilgrims that are found to have swine flu symptoms. The Ministry of Health has stocked up adequate quantities of tablets and vaccines to treat swine flu patients.
Mirghalani also said swine flu patients who fully recover from swine flu will be protected from it. “The recovered patients will not get it back,” he said. “However, they will not be immune against the seasonal flu.”
