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INFLUENZA PANDEMIC (H1N1) 2009 (113): SAUDI ARABIA, HAJJ FATALITIES
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A ProMED-mail post
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ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
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Date: Sat 21 Nov 2009
Date: BBC News [edited]
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/middle_east/8372378.stm>
Saudi officials say 4 pilgrims have died of swine flu [influenza
pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus infection] as they take part in this
year's [2009] annual Mecca pilgrimage. 3 of the victims -- a woman
from Morocco and men from Sudan and India -- were in their 70s. The
4th was a 17-year-old girl from Nigeria.
The Health Ministry said none of the 4 foreign victims had been
vaccinated against the [pandemic] H1N1 virus. An official statement
released by the Ministry said all had underlying health problems,
including cancer and respiratory illness, the AFP [Agence
France-Presse] news agency reported. 3 of the victims died in Medina
and one in Mecca.
Up to 3 million Muslims from around the world take part in the holy
pilgrimage every year, but health officials have expressed fears that
it could provide a breeding ground for the virus. Authorities had
tried to prepare for any outbreaks by installing thermal [imaging]
cameras at airports and sea terminals, deploying 15 000 additional
health workers and ensuring hundreds of extra beds were available.
Health Ministry spokesman Dr Khaled Marghlani told AFP that 16 other
people had diagnosed with swine flu and 4 remain in hospital in
"critical condition." He added 12 others had recovered following treatment.
The Saudi government has said all pilgrims need a certificate of
vaccination before they can apply for a visa [see also ProMED-mail
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (109): Saudi Arabia, Hajj pilgrims
20091120.3997]. In September [2009], the Egyptian authorities barred
hundreds of Muslim pilgrims in Cairo from travelling to Mecca because
of fears about the [pandemic] virus. In July [2009], an Egyptian
woman returning from the lesser Umrah pilgrimage became the 1st
person to die of swine flu in the Middle East and Africa. Performing
the Hajj is incumbent upon all Muslims who have the means to make the
journey to Mecca. Iran banned all pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia during
Ramadan in an attempt to contain the spread of the virus.
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail Rapporteur Kunihiko Iizuka
[The HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of Saudi Arabia can be accessed at
<http://healthmap.org/r/00-N>. - Mod.CP]
[see also
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (112): Canada (MB), vaccine reaction
20091121.4009
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (111): Norway, mutants 20091121.4005
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (110): UK (Wales), Tamiflu resistance
20091120.4000
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (109): Saudi Arabia, Hajj pilgrims 20091120.3997
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (108): PAHO update 20091118.3981
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (107): epitope analysis 20091118.3980
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (106): Ukraine, WHO 20091117.397
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (105): rhinovirus interference 20091117.3969
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (104): pandemic activity 20091116.3961
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (103): Ukraine 20091116.3959
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (102): Iran 20091115.3946
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (101): Afghanistan, Pakistan 20091115.3945
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (100): Ukraine (DT) 20091114.3940
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (90): Venezuela, Yanomami 20091105.3820
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (80): Ukraine susp. RFI 20091031.3764
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (70): Nepal 20091016.3563
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (60): bacterial coinfection 20090930.3410
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (50): oseltamivir-resistance 20090917.3260
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (40): global update 20090906.3138
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (30): assumptions 20090813.2879
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (20): Peru, 33 percent asymptomatic
20090730.2668
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (10): vaccine 20090720.2577
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - Viet Nam: patient data 20090708.2450]
...................................cp/mj/dk
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