A 27-year-old Saudi woman has died from the swine flu in Makkah, local Health Ministry officials have said.

The victim, from the Kamil Governorate 150 km from Makkah, was admitted to Hera General Hospital in Makkah, according to Bassam Al-Maghrabi, Health Ministry spokesman for the Makkah region.

“The patient had been diagnosed with pneumonia and respiratory failure,” he said. The patient was admitted to the hospital’s intensive care unit with a specialized team of doctors. “The patient was given a full dose of the medication for the virus, as well as antibiotics and other preventive measures,” Al-Maghrabi said.

“The patient, however, did not respond to treatment and died in the early hours of Friday.”

A senior official also urged residents and pilgrims to take seasonal influenza vaccinations against the H1N1 virus and also adopt preventive measures to protect against infectious diseases by avoiding large crowds and maintaining personal hygiene.