All emergency departments at government hospitals are on alert and prepared to deal with swine flue cases, said Dr. Sami Badawood, Director of Health Affairs Directorate Saturday. The Ministry of Health Saturday announced four new cases of swine flu, taking the total to 34 in the Kingdom. “All emergency departments, hospital infection control sections, and management of primary health care in Jeddah are training workers, doctors, and technicians in how to deal with suspected and confirmed cases of swine flu,” said Abdul Rahman Al-Sahafi, Public Relations Director at Jeddah Health Affairs Directorate. He said the Health Affairs Directorate is making sure that all government hospitals are on alert to deal with swine flu cases and to expedite the provision of all medical and diagnostic services to prevent the spread of the disease. Health Affairs Directorate will keep citizens aware of all preparations made in the hospitals, said Al-Sahafi. The Ministry of Health distributed brochures to government hospitals updating them on the latest procedures to deal with swine flu cases. Earlier Saturday, a statement released by the ministry said the new cases were found in two Saudi children (five and three years old) who were in contact with an infected person. The two children have been quarantined at maternity and children hospital in Madina. The third case – an 8-month-old Saudi infant who was also in contact with an infected person – has been isolated at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh. The fourth case is a 27-year-old Saudi youth, who came to Riyadh from Thailand via Abu Dhabi aboard the Al-Ittihad flight (317) Tuesday (June 16).He developed swine flu symptoms Thursday (June 18). He too has been quarantined. The Health Ministry reiterated that the required preventive measures are taken against swine flu in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO). Meanwhile, drug makers geared up to make vaccines against the new H1N1 virus, starting test batches and pledging free doses for poor countries. Governments are pledging billions for the vaccine. The US has set aside $1 billion, the Netherlands ordered 34 million doses.
