20 HAJ PILGRIMS DETECTED POSITIVE H1N1

JEDDAH, Nov 20 (Bernama) -- A total of 20 influenza A (H1N1) cases have been
reported among foreign Haj pilgrims since they started arriving here for this
year’s pilgrimage, the Saudi Arabian English Daily Arab News reported.

The newspaper quoted Health Minister Dr Abdullah Al-Rabeeah as saying that
12 of them had been treated and the remaining cases are under observation.

No other cases of contagious diseases had been reported among the pilgrims,
he said, adding that the ministry’s early health preparations for this Haj
season were bearing fruit.

"Our focus this year has been on swine flu and the Department for Preventive
Medicine and Haj agencies have appointed 80 consultants for the intensive care
centre during the current season," he added.

Meanwhile, a Malaysian hajj pilgrims fund board or Tabung Haji spokesman
said no H1N1 case had been reported among Malaysian pilgrims so far and none of
the pilgrims being treated at two Tabung Haji hospitals in Aziziah and Sisya had
H1N1 symptoms.

However, he said, Tabung Haji health personnel were monitoring the situation
and would take approproprite action if any of the Malaysian pilgrims had the
H1N1 symptoms.

-- BERNAMA