RIYADH: The Ministry of Health announced on Sunday three new deaths “in different parts of the Kingdom” attributed to swine flu, bringing the toll in the Kingdom to 14.
“The first two cases are Saudis, one a woman of 28 and the other a girl of 11. Both died on Friday while the third case was an Indian who died a day earlier,” the ministry announcement said, adding that the intensity of the virus in the Kingdom is still considered “mild” and below the average of countries where the virus has spread, with most infected people in Saudi Arabia recovering.
Minister of Health Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah is maintaining the ministry’s advisory on avoiding crowds, washing hands frequently, covering mouths and noses when coughing or sneezing and seeking medical attention quickly after flu symptoms arise.
In related news, Assistant Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Ziad Maimash will open on Tuesday a swine flu forum here.
The topics tackled by the workshop include updating on the epidemiology of swine flu, the diagnostic challenges of the flu and infection control measures.
The Medical Committee of the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry has organized the workshop in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, according to the board member of the chamber, Sami Al-Abdulkareem. He told Arab News that this initiative of organizing the workshop, which is the first of its kind to be taken by any chamber of commerce in the Kingdom, comes as part of the chamber’s role in educating the community.
The workshop, which will be in English, is mainly intended for health care professionals and not the general public.
