RIYADH/JEDDAH: Four people have died from swine flu, bringing the death toll in the Kingdom to 37.
“The dead were two Saudi females and two expatriate males,” Ministry of Health spokesman Dr. Khaled Al-Mirghalani told Arab News on Thursday.
The victim’s identities have not been revealed, nor the nationalities of the two expatriates. Their families have been notified.
Al-Mirghalani said the patients had been suffering from severe illnesses before being diagnosed with the H1N1 virus infection.
“Most swine flu fatalities in the Kingdom were patients with a history of chronic chest and lung diseases,” he added. The ministry conveyed its deepest sympathies to the victims’ families.
Over 3,500 people in the Kingdom have contracted the H1N1 virus; 98 percent of them have recovered.
Meanwhile, the ministry is to open a new emergency hospital site in Jeddah for treating patients with swine flu.
The hospital will be part of the Dr. Bakhsh General Hospital in Prince Sultan Road near the Globe Roundabout in northern Jeddah. It will be ready in two weeks.
“The hospital has 100 beds and it will be able to receive and treat cases of H1N1 infections during this Haj season. The hospital will be rented for one year and the contract will be extended if needed,” Assistant Director of Health Affairs Dr. Turki Al-Sharif said.
The hospital is known for its internal medicine and intensive care units and is operated by a professional medical team and trained technical staff.
“The hospital is being customized to cater and treat those who are infected with the H1N1 virus, especially pilgrims who arrive in the city en route to performing Haj in Makkah,” Al-Sharif said.
Thermal monitoring screens have been installed at King Abdulaziz International Airport to detect people who may have swine flu. Those who display symptoms are sent to the hospital for further tests.
“Positive cases will then be admitted to the hospital and released after they are cured. After that they will be able to return to their Haj groups,” Al-Sharif said.
Al-Sharif added the Health Affairs office in Jeddah, Haj agents, the Directorate General of Passports and the airport officials were working together to oversee and report H1N1 cases to the hospital.
