Kingdom detects 3 more swine flu cases
The Source: www.arabnews.com - 13/06/2009
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Variety News
Family members of the
three-year-old infant who confirmed positive for the H1N1 virus on Thursday tested positive for swine flu yesterday. The child’s father and two sisters, aged five and seven, tested positive at the Riyadh Armed Forces Hospital yesterday, raising the number of confirmed cases in the Kingdom to six.The Ministry of Health said that the toddler was on Saudia Flight 022, which arrived from New York on Sunday. The names of the family members are being withheld because of medical privacy.Health officials have urged all passengers to contact the swine flu hot line (01-487-5511 extensions 333, 391 and 392) between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m.“The child developed symptoms after arrival and was tested positive for H1N1 only on Thursday,” said a ministry official who did not want to provide his name for publication. “We want to ensure that the other passengers do not carry the virus.”The father and two girls were found to also have swine flu as medical personnel were testing members of the entire family. The number of family members who took the flight has not been disclosed.Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah said yesterday the infected members of the family are currently being treated and monitored. The H1N1 virus has proven so far to be relatively mild, though there are concerns it could mutate into a more fatal form.“We want to maintain transparency in all our actions regarding this disease,” the minister added. “We will keep the people informed of all preventive measures taken by the government in the fight against the disease.”Abdul Rahman Al-Sahfi, spokesman for Health Affairs in Jeddah, told Arab News there are no confirmed cases of H1N1 flu in Jeddah.Dr. Tariq Madani, head of the department in charge of infectious diseases at Jeddah’s King Saud Hospital said that while swine flu is treatable, half of the patients recover on their own.“The cases difficult to handle are of aged patients and those with weak immunity,” Madani said.He said Saudi doctors have the capability to identify any virus in a short time because of their experience in dealing with millions of pilgrims arriving in the Kingdom from across the world annually.In the meantime, the Health Department in Taif denied reports that two nurses were suspected of having contacted the swine flu.The first confirmed case of swine flu in Saudi Arabia was found in a nurse who returned from the Philippines on May 29
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