JEDDAH: Only a few swine flu cases and no deaths were reported among millions of pilgrims during the holy month of Ramadan despite fears of a massive outbreak, the Health Ministry said on Monday.
Just 26 cases of H1N1 influenza were reported in Makkah and Madinah during Ramadan, the Saudi Press Agency reported, quoting a ministry statement.
Several million foreigners, joined by as many local pilgrims, had descended on Makkah and Madinah to perform Umrah and pray at the Prophet’s Mosque during the holy month that ended on Sept. 20.
Another two cases were reported in the northern and southern border regions on the land route to Makkah from neighboring countries, the statement said.
“The Ministry of Health continues to follow closely the disease among pilgrims and visitors from all areas through epidemiological surveillance and laboratory diagnosis of suspected cases,” it said.
Epidemiologists feared a massive outbreak of swine flu among pilgrims at the peak Umrah period during the fasting month.
As of Sept. 7, when the most recent government data were released, 26 people had died of swine flu in Saudi Arabia. So far there have been over 3,500 confirmed cases of H1N1 cases in Saudi Arabia, which were mostly cured.
But the danger was reduced by intensive surveillance preparation and warnings from Riyadh that children, the elderly and other high-risk persons should be prevented from undertaking Umrah this year.
Countries such as Egypt and Oman placed their own restrictions on Umrah pilgrims to mitigate the threat.
Shops, hotels and tour operators in the holy cities are counting the losses as many pilgrims stayed at home.
Hotel occupancy rates during the last 10 days of Ramadan, when many perform Umrah, fell by more than a third to 55 percent compared to last year, said Walid Abu Sabaa, head of the Tourism and Hotels Committee at the Makkah Chamber of Commerce.
Businessmen say their biggest-spending clients are staying away. “There is an absence of Gulf pilgrims from Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain or Oman,” said Saudi jewelry dealer Saud Muhammad, who owns a store inside a mall.
But even if the numbers go down authorities still face a big challenge — thousands flock every day to the Grand Mosque with some poor pilgrims sleeping and dozing in groups on prayer mats.
“I heard much of swine flu...(but) for an old woman like me there would be nothing better if I died here in this holy land,” said a pilgrim in her 70s from Algeria.
Saudi and global health authorities are still concerned about the possibility of an outbreak during the annual pilgrimage in late November when more than two million foreigners and possibly as many Saudis are expected to descend on the two holy cities.
The authorities have postponed starting the new school year for up to two weeks to train over 66,000 teachers on how to help prevent the spreading of the virus in schools.
The education departments in nine cities across the Kingdom have been asked to establish a committee to raise awareness among school staff about the H1N1 virus.
The request was made in a circular sent by Deputy Minister of Education Faisal bin Muammar as part of a plan devised by the Ministry of Education. The nine education departments include those in Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah, Abha, Buraidah, Madinah, Baha, Tabuk and Al-Jouf.
Two representatives from every school in the Kingdom are to be given training on Tuesday on how to tackle the virus. The representatives will attend lectures delivered by specialist doctors. Special arrangements have been made for women.
School staff who attend the training sessions will be required to train their colleagues on the second day of schools opening.
Muammar also said inspectors would visit schools to ensure pupils are made aware of the H1N1 virus.
Further to this, King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah is arranging a swine flu awareness campaign for 12,000 students.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and the Saudi Food and Drugs Authority (SFDA) Monday assured citizens and expatriates that there were no side effects for the H1N1 vaccine expected to be available mid next month.
“There is no truth to the reports carried by some Internet sites and circulated on mobile messages that the vaccine has bad side effects,” the two said in a joint press release.
The ministry and the SFDA said the vaccine was being marketed after it was proved that it is not harmful and is according to the international standards of safety.
The ministry plans to import 10 million doses of the vaccine in addition to five million doses for use in schools.
— With input from agencies
