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Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Saudi Arabia : Swine flu kills 3 in Saudi ahead of Haj

Via The Peninsula :

" RIYADH: Swine flu killed three people in Saudi Arabia in the past two weeks, the health ministry said yesterday, while playing down the threat from the disease ahead of next month’s Haj pilgrimage.

“There are three cases (of death), but that’s normal - this is the season,” ministry spokesman Khaled Marghlani said.

Marghlani said the pace of infection from the A(H1N1) flu virus, which sparked fears of a global pandemic last year, was now not distinguishable from generic flu infections.

He said that no special swine flu precautions were being taken for the hajj, as some two million or more Muslims began arriving in the country this week for the annual pilgrimage to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah in early November.

Pilgrims were being strongly urged to get seasonal vaccinations for flu, which this year include coverage for swine flu, as recommended by the World Health Organisation, Marghlani said."

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