PILGRIMS HEALTH REASSURING, SAYS MINISTER

FROM NOOR HAMMAD WARIMAN

MECCA, Nov 24 (Bernama) -- Only four pilgrims have so far died of Inluenza A
(H1N1) flu, not 10 as reported in some sections of media, Saudi Health Minister
Dr Abdullah Al-Rabeeah claimed on Monday.

Saudi Arabian English daily, Arab News, quoted Dr Abdullah as saying that
there were no new deaths among pilgrims because of the disease beyond the four
deaths, which were already announced and that there were also no other
epidemics.

Without stating the nationality of the affected pilgrims, the minister said
that so far there were 70 confirmed cases of Influenza A (H1N1) among those
performing the Haj but claimed they were all recovering and stable.

"The patients have been confined to hospitals and only one of them is in
intensive care," he said, hitting back at those who allegedly spread exaggerated
rumours about the health status of Haj pilgrims.

"The general health condition of all pilgrims is reassuring and there are no
other pandemics. The ministry of health has mobilised all resources for the well
being of pilgrims," he reaffirmed.

He said 19 well-equipped health centres had been established here to
receive suspected and confirmed Inluenza A (H1N1) cases.

He added that a special laboratory would also be set up in Arafah, 9 km away
from here where pilgrims stand from dawn to dusk at the climax of Haj, to
examine those who may have caught the virus. In total there are 14 similar
laboratories around the kingdom.

The ministry has provided 14 hospitals in Mecca and the holy sites with a
total of 2,782 beds, 244 intensive care beds and 287 emergency beds. In
addition, there are 10 hospitals in Maeina as well as 136 health-care centres
spread all over key Haj locations.

Dr Abdullah said there were 35 permanent health centres in Mecca, nine
seasonal centres along the Mecca-Medina expressway and four health facilities
inside the Grand Mosque, 10 general hospitals in Medina with 1,170 beds, four
seasonal health centres in the central area around the Prophet's Mosque, seven
along the axial roads and five at pilgrim accomodations.

There are also 28 centres in Mina, six in Muzdalifah and 46 in Arafah, he
said, adding that a total of 17,609 medical staff consisting of doctors, nurses,
technicians and administratoors were involved in providing health services to
pilgrims.
-- BERNAMA