GCC, Yemen approve joint precautions to encounter Swine Flu

DOHA, May 03 (Saba) - Health Ministers of GCC and Yemen have
approved in their concluding meeting in Qatar some joint
precautionary measures to encounter Swine Flu in the light of its
spreading in several parts of the world.

The meeting, which was chaired by Minister of Public Health and
Population Abdul-Karim Rase'a the head of the 34th round for GCC
Health Ministers, came out with approving of activating preparedness
plans to combat swine flu.

The meeting also approved the continuation of activating the early
warning systems and epidemiological Surveillance for such pandemic
in addition to updating the national plans according to developments
in the affected countries.

The meeting's closing statement selected the three laboratories in
Saudi Arabia to be reference to identify "AH1N1" virus, besides the
other laboratories attested by World Health Organization (WHO).

The meeting also agreed on carrying out awareness program to
introduce this pandemic and ways of its transferring, as well as the
necessary precautionary measures to reduce the possibility of the
infection.

The Ministers asserted the importance of following-up of the
pandemic developments, evaluating the local situation and assuring
coordination between Health, Agriculture and Trade Ministries to
combat Swine Flu.

The minister also emphasized to exchange information and experiences
between health ministries and nominating liaison officers from each
country to report directly and immediately on any suspect cases.

FJ/AF