SAUDI ARABIA: Riyadh hosts a regional conference on the precautions needed to avoid an outbreak of the H1N1 swine flu virus in the Middle East
Record ID:
189174
SAUDI ARABIA: Riyadh hosts a regional conference on the precautions needed to avoid an outbreak of the H1N1 swine flu virus in the Middle East
- Title: SAUDI ARABIA: Riyadh hosts a regional conference on the precautions needed to avoid an outbreak of the H1N1 swine flu virus in the Middle East
- Date: 11th May 2009
- Summary: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (MAY 9, 2009) (REUTERS) ARABIC SIGN ADVISING OF CAMPAIGN FOR PREVENTION OF SWINE FLU (H1N1) VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS FROM THE SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF THE GULF MEETING TO DISCUSS PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES AGAINST OUTBREAKS OF VIRUS A (H1N1) POSTER ON THE PREVENTION OF CATCHING THE INFLUENZA A VIRUS SAUDI WOMAN SPEAKING ON MOBILE IN FRONT OF PROMOTIONAL IMAGE FOR FLU PREVENTION POSTER ON THE PREVENTION OF CATCHING THE INFLUENZA A VIRUS SCOTT MCNABB, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FOR U.S. CENTRE FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC) IN ATLANTA, SPEAKING TO CONFERENCE MEMBERS ABOUT PREVENTION MEASURES TO AVOID CATCHING THE SWINE FLU VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS AT CONFERENCE VARIOUS OF MCNABB SHOWING SLIDES ON HOW THE INFLUENZA VIRUS IS THOUGHT TO BE SPREAD LOGO OF GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL (GCC) READING (Arabic): THE SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF THE GULF PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES AGAINST OUTBREAKS OF VIRUS A (H1N1)" (SOUNDBITE) (English) SCOTT MCNABB, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FOR U.S. CENTRE FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC), SAYING: "We are having an outbreak of this novel influenza virus in the United States and the WHO (World Health Organisation) has raised the level to level 5 of preparedness for a pandemic, so it's important for the Gulf countries to enhance their surveillance and to inform their own peoples on how to protect themselves from getting sick. It's very important they do that." SIGN READING (Arabic): SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF THE GULF PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES AGAINST OUTBREAKS OF VIRUS A (H1N1)" PARTICIPANTS AT CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SAUDI HEALTH MINISTER DR. ABDULLAH AL-RABEEAH, SAYING: "As for the geographical position of our region and the importance of our precious countries, making it the focus of millions of visitors from all over the globe and especially given their speed of movement and mobility is connected with air transport and the concomitant transfer of the disease is very fast, comes the important scientific conference and the presence of scientists from the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Arab States, as well as experts from the World Health Organisation and experts from infection control centres in the United States and Canada. This emphasises the importance of reaching recommendations and conclusions aimed at unifying the efforts, plans and evidence for the protection of this important region and residents of its territory, and all those who are visiting it." PARTICIPANTS AT CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 26th May 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Saudi Arabia
- Country: Saudi Arabia
- Topics: Health
- Reuters ID: LVAA1S4C15T1CGU67L7120E5Z6OD
- Story Text: Arab countries agreed on Friday (May 9) to adopt a unified plan to fight the spread of the H1N1 virus, commonly referred to as Swine flu.
The plan, based on measures adopted by the Saudi Kingdom and other nations in the region, was agreed at a regional conference hosted by Saudi Arabia, looking into the precautions countries need to take to avoid an outbreak of that particular influenza strain in the Middle East.
The conference brought together scientists and health ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Arab states, as well as experts from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and from infection control centres in the United States and Canada.
The conference was chaired by Saudi Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah.
Scott McNabb, associate director for the U.S. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, outlined symptoms of swine flu, and how it could or could not be caught. He said it was important for the Arab countries to educate their citizens on prevention measures to avoid catching the Influenza virus A (H1N1) strain.
"We are having an outbreak of this novel influenza virus in the United States and the WHO (World Health Organisation) has raised the level to level 5 of preparedness for a pandemic so it's important for the Gulf countries to enhance their surveillance and to inform their own peoples on how to protect themselves from getting sick. It's very important they do that," McNabb said.
If the WHO raises the level to 6, a pandemic will be said to have started.
Members agreed to launch an awareness campaign in all member countries about the causes of the disease, the treatment available and preventative measures. Members also asked for the cooperation of the media to help spread the information. Member countries also agreed to stock up on quantities of anti-viral drugs in order to handle any emergencies.
As of Saturday (May 10), no confirmed cases of the swine flu had been reported in the Middle East.
Al-Rabeeah said, however, that with the many millions of visitors who travelled to the region, especially for the Islamic pilgrimage in Mecca, it was important for Arab countries to unify their efforts to protect their residents from the virus.
"As for the geographical position of our region and the importance of our precious countries, making it the focus of millions of visitors from all over the globe and especially given their speed of movement and mobility is connected with air transport and the concomitant transfer of the disease is very fast, comes the important scientific conference and the presence of scientists from the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Arab States, as well as experts from the World Health Organisation and experts from infection control centres in the United States and Canada. This emphasises the importance of reaching recommendations and conclusions aimed at unifying the efforts, plans and evidence for the protection of this important region and residents of its territory, and all those who are visiting it," Al-Rabeeah said.
Early signs of influenza A(H1N1) are flu-like, including fever, cough, headache, muscle and joint pain, sore throat and runny nose, and sometimes vomiting or diarrhoea. Children can develop blue lips.
The virus is spread via human-to-human transmission. This includes being around when infected people cough or sneeze, or infected droplets get on their hands, drop onto surfaces, or are dispersed into the air.
If another person breathes in contaminated air, or touches infected hands or surfaces, they can be exposed to the virus. To prevent the spread, people should cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing, and wash their hands regularly.
As of May 10, 29 countries have officially reported 4,379 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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