Ministry of Health casts light on the situation of swine flu

Riyadh, August 17, SPA -- About 2000 persons in Saudi Arabia have
caught swine flu, 95% of them were cured and 14 passed away, an
official report said today.

Dr. Khalid bin Mohammed Mirghalani, Spokesman of the Ministry of
Health, said that, despite the rapid outbreak of the disease
worldwide, its force to spread in Saudi Arabia was moderate and under
control, thanks to the strict and transparent influenza pandemic
instructions of the Ministry of Health, based on guidelines of the
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al
Saud.
He said Saudi Arabia was strictly following the WHO instructions on
combating the disease through the Saudi National Committee.
He added that Saudi Arabia would be among the first countries in the
world who would acquire the H1N1-A vaccine when it was approved by
the WHO soon as no other country in the world has possessed the
vaccine so far. He said five renowned international pharmaceutical
companies are currently in the process of research-and-manufacture of
the vaccine.
Mirghalani disclosed that the Minister of Education and the Minister
of Health would co-hold a press conference later on the situation at
Saudi schools.
The Health Ministry's spokesman said the instructions of the
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
to manage the treatment of swine flu patients at the expense of the
state applies for all public and private hospitals without exception.
The Health senior official considered illumination of people on how
to deal with the disease is a crucial factor to combat the epidemic
at the moment.
--SPA