Seventh death in Kuwait

"I regret to hear about this. Yet still I'm hoping for a positive outcome. Even without the swine flu, everyone ought to pay full attention on good and proper hygiene measures. For those who are susceptible, they need it tenfold. "

Kuwait’s Ministry of Health announced the seventh death caused by swine flu, of a man aged 70 years old, who suffered from diabetes, high-blood pressure, deficiencies in the coronary artery, as well as other heart problems.

Ministry of Health spokesperson Qais Al-Diwairi told KUNA that the fatality was a severe medical case, with many complications and high fever. Although he was treated with antibiotics, he did not respond to them and died.

The ministry expressed regret for the man’s death and offered condolences to his family. The recovery rate from swine flu cases in the country has reached 99 percent, and the percentage of cases and deaths registered in Kuwait regarding this disease is considered among the lowest internationally.

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Kuwait confirms fourth swine flu death

"I know what you are probably thinking. Hard it may seem, reality is so visible so much so that it may send quivers to our spine. Swine flu virus is lurking to its course like a wolf hunting for its prey. Let's shield ourselves. We know what to do. We all need strong resistance much more for our children. And oh, listen to our instincts too."

Wednesday, 26 August 2009
Kuwait’s Ministry of Health on Wednesday confirmed a fourth death from swine flu - a non-Kuwaiti child aged two.

The child, who died Wednesday morning, had been admitted to a children’s hospital on Tuesday for other health issues, including a 'nutritional imbalance'. The young girl was subsequently put in isolation.

According to the World Health Organization, segments of society most prone to the H1N1 virus include children under the age of five, pregnant women, the elderly, obese individuals, people affected by chronic illnesses and individuals with weak immune systems.

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Kuwait confirms third swine flu death

"Here's hoping for infected AH1N1 patients to recover well in spite of conditions that might complicate their health."

25 August 2009
A Kuwaiti man infected with swine flu has died, bringing number of related deaths in the Gulf country to three.

Ministry of Health spokesman Dr Youssef Al-Nisf said the man, who died in the intensive care unit, also had very acute respiratory infections and obesity.

Al-Nisf added that the citizen was admitted to the hospital on August 17, where he was isolated and subjected to anti-viral treatment, KUNA News Agency reported.

This is the third swine-flu related case of death in Kuwait while the number of infected cases stands at 1,072.

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GCC Flu Meeting held in Kuwait/ ‘99pc Kuwait’s swine flu cases have recovered’

"A good assurance for all by Kuwait's minister of health - Dr. Hilal Al-Sayer stressed that the percentage of recovery from swine flu disease in Kuwait has exceeded 99 percent. He underlined that fatalities from seasonal flu outbreaks far exceed current fatality rates from the swine flu."

KUWAIT CITY, Aug 15, (Agencies): Kuwait’s minister of Health Dr Hilal Al-Sayer affirmed on Saturday that the extraordinary GCC meeting on the swine flu was an apt opportunity to compare notes with neighboring countries on ways of preventing the spread of this disease. Speaking to reporters following the meeting, he said that the percentage of recovery from this disease in Kuwait has exceeded 99 percent, noting that the swine flu is not posing an unusually great threat in the area. He underlined that fatalities from seasonal flu outbreaks far exceed current fatality rates from the swine flu. About the meeting, Dr Al-Sayer said GCC ministers of Health discussed the latest on the swine flu and ways of enhancing the exchange of health information by GCC states. He said the ministers also reviewed what precautions to take ahead of the start of the school year in view of the spread of the swine flu in the area. On the sidelines of today’s meeting, executive director of the office for GCC ministers of health Tawfiq Khoja told KUNA that in view of the fact that the swine flu is progressively spreading in the region, it behoved officials to review precautionary measures including coordination with regional and international health organizations to check the spread of this disease.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health is planning to exclude pilgrims under unlicensed Hajj caravans from the H1N1 swine flu vaccination which is expected to begin by September, 2009, reports Al-Watan Arabic daily. Moreover, the Ministry of Health, in coordination with concerned authorities, will investigate unlicensed Hajj caravans, in an effort to safeguard the health of the pilgrims. In a related incident, an estimated 45,000 swine flu vaccines are expected in the country by next month. Sources said manufacturing companies do not provide large quantity of the vaccines at a time. Spanish newspapers splashed photos on Saturday of the health minister failing to practice her own advice to avoid kissing in an H1N1 flu awareness campaign. The front pages of El Mundo and another national newspaper featured pictures of Trinidad Jimenez kissing news conference assistants twice on the cheek before she went on to warn against kissing as a way to prevent the spread of the H1N1 flu virus.

Jimenez’s health campaign, launched on Friday, recommended measures such as washing hands frequently, using tissues when sneezing or coughing and avoiding kissing and sharing glasses. The news conference was held hours before the virus claimed its eleventh victim in the country, a 31-year-old woman.

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Cabinet urged to take necessary measures on tackling ‘swine flu’

"Despite the increasing swine flu cases, health officials are not taking things for granted. They continue keeping things in order and improving measures to control swine flu. The private schools union will also discuss important matters regarding prevention working on a proposal to protect students and prevent outbreak of the disease in schools."

KUWAIT CITY, Aug 9: Reform and Development Bloc member MP Dr Jamaan Al-Harbash on Sunday asked the Cabinet to take the necessary precautionary measures to combat swine flu (H1N1 virus). Affirming that 500 or more people have been infected with swine flu in Kuwait, Al-Harbash reiterated his bloc’s proposal to postpone opening of the new academic year to prevent further spread of the virus. “According to international health organizations, the virus might spread at an alarming rate at the beginning of the new academic year. The Ministry of Health (MoH) must immediately take the necessary precautions, such as delaying the opening of the new academic year, which should not be a point of debate among officials at the Ministry of Education (MoE). This step requires careful planning to ensure the safety of our nation,” Al-Harbash opined. Criticizing the Cabinet for its failure to launch additional public awareness campaigns, Al-Harbash argued such campaigns will greatly contribute in trimming down the number of swine flu cases in the country. He asserted the bloc is closely monitoring the Cabinet’s actions, particularly those related to this pandemic.

Agencies add:

The Union of Private Schools is working on a proposal that discusses the prevention of swine flu in foreign private schools in the new semester beginning Aug 20, reports Al-Qabas daily quoting reliable sources. According to the sources, the union will submit this proposal to representatives at the Ministry of Health during a meeting scheduled to be held on Aug 12. The meeting will be attended by owners and principals of private schools, and will discuss the proposal. The sources added if the Ministry approves the proposal, it will be circulated to all schools. The source pointed out the report includes precautionary steps to be taken by school administrations to protect students and prevent an outbreak of the disease. They also said issuing vaccinations in Arab and foreign schools is an important precautionary measure.

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‘Delay school for H1N1 vaccine’; 54 new cases

"Be informed but be cautious as well. In two weeks time, it will be Ramadan. I shared some tips found in the archive. The best thing to do is good hygiene measures. I'm a hundred percent sure we'll do fine."

KUWAIT CITY, Aug 2: Some 54 new swine flu cases were reported by Kuwait on Sunday, taking the country’s total number of patients up to 265, the Ministry of Health said. As their health conditions are not serious, the new cases have been allowed to receive necessary medication at home, the ministry’s spokesman Yussef Al-Nesif told KUNA. Most swine flu cases in Kuwait have been discharged from hospital following full recovery. Kuwait’s swine flu patients are mostly aged 16-35, the spokesman said, adding that the ministry was taking all required measures to contain the disease in the country. The world has yet to find an effective way to combat swine flu, while the number of cases in Kuwait and its neighboring countries has continued to escalate at an alarming rate, MP Dr Faisal Al-Muslim said Sunday.

Pointing out the current bed capacity at the Infectious Diseases Hospital is not enough to accommodate the growing number of swine flu patients in Kuwait, Al-Muslim asked the government to intensify its media awareness campaign to inform the public about recent developments regarding the virus, particularly its nature, prevention and treatment. He urged the concerned authorities to postpone opening of the new academic year until the arrival of swine flu vaccines and adopt a clear stand in accordance with the recommendations of Arab Health Ministers regarding those who intend to perform Umrah during the holy month of Ramadan. He advised the Ministry of Health (MoH) to speed up implementation of informative programs, such as teaching Hajj caravan owners how to deal with this disease.

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Panel to discuss suspension of classes over ‘swine flu threat’

"Be aware. School children and teenagers are the vulnerable ones."

KUWAIT CITY, July 31: Manager of Epidemic Control Department at the Ministry of Health (MoH) and Rapporteur of the Joint Higher Committee for Swine Flu Control Dr Musab Al-Saleh has revealed the higher and technical committees will discuss in its next meeting a proposal to suspend classes if the number of swine flu cases in the country escalates to an unprecedented level at the start of the new academic year, reports Al-Dar daily. Clarifying the Ministry of Education (MoE) is not ruling out the possibility of suspending classes as the situation is expected to get worse, Al-Saleh stressed the MoH is ready to face any possible outbreak in schools. He said the ministry has tightened measures at the entry points to monitor the health condition of those who will return from their summer holidays abroad, affirming employees assigned at the entry points have been instructed to postpone their holidays. He added the government has allocated a budget of KD 5 million for combating swine flu.

From source:

Kuwait's swine flu numbers rise to 111, teens susceptible

"As you can see, almost all new reported cases of swine flu in Kuwait are from individuals going to and returning from trips abroad. Well, in the heat of the moment let's continue to keep our chin up. Good hygiene measures."

Published Date: July 30, 2009
KUWAIT: Kuwait's health authorities are closely monitoring cases diagnosed with the H1N1 virus, amid warnings from the World Health Organization (WHO) that most of those infected worldwide are teenagers, aged between 12 and 17, and that swine flu could spread among school children. The Ministry of Health is working around the clock, especially after the number of cases reported in the country rose to 111, with the global total currently standing at around 80,000, of whom 359 have died, according to the WHO.

Mohsen Burguba, director of the Ministry of Education's (MoE) Public Relations and Media Department, said that the health and education ministries were working closely to take the necessary precautions to safeguard pupils, and are launching an awareness campaign about the nature of the virus and ways of dealing of it before the beginning of the next academic year sees schools reopening.

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Tamiflu syrup for pupils

"Here is something we can look on to."

Local News
Published Date: July 28, 2009

KUWAIT: As part of its preparations for a possible increase in the numbers of H1N1 (swine flu) infections over the autumn period, the Ministry of Health has purchased sufficient supplies of the Tamiflu drug in syrup form to be given to all kindergarten and primary school-age children. Older children will be able to take the drug in its more commonly used capsule form, which the ministry has already bought stocks of. A MoH official revealed that the ministry has also appointed a Ministry of Education Assistant Undersecretary as a member of its supreme committee tasked with combating the virus.

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WHO EMRO meeting on swine flu crucial - Kuwait acting Hlt. Min.

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"It is right, millions will flock on the Muslim pilgrimage and Umra for their religious duties. The Acting Health Minister of Kuwait made a decisive action and should be taken with utmost importance."

7/22/2009 9:54:00 PM

CAIRO, July 22 (KUNA) -- Kuwait's Acting Minister of Health Moudhi Al-Humoud stressed Wednesday the necessity of the emergency meeting of East Mediterranean health ministers while hailing recommendations and solutions set forth aimed at combating the global outspread of the A(H1N1) virus.

Al-Humoud, also Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education, was speaking to KUNA ahead of her departure of Cairo, Egypt, after attending the World Health Organization - Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (WHO EMRO) meeting. She said that Arab health ministers at the meeting urged the need for a combined awareness campaign on how to avoid swine flu contamination. She added that the meeting was meant to discuss precautionary measures, countries in the region were to take in event of the upcoming seasons of Muslim pilgrimage (Hajj) and Umra where hundreds of thousands of Muslims will flock to Makkah, Saudi Arabia to carry out their religious duties.

Al-Humoud expressed hope results of the meeting will benefit people in the region, especially with the coinciding period of the religious season with Autumn when seasonal flu numbers increase significantly. She also praised the efforts of Saudi authorities aimed at tackling the spread of the pandemic. Saudi Arabia's health minister also attended the meeting. The country's western city of Jeddah in June, was host to over 50 health specialists who discussed means to combat and prevent the outspread of the global pandemic.

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Ministry installs new labs to contain swine flu infections

"I say, thumbs up! It is said that swine flu cases will rise this fall but if there are ways to control, then go for it Kuwait. What I mean to say is if it is not possible to stop, then by all means take healthy measures."

KUWAIT CITY, July 6, (Agencies): Senior Officials from the Ministry of Health disclosed the ministry has purchased equipment and other medication to treat patients at the Contagious Diseases Hospital at a cost of KD 295,255, reports Al-Shahid daily. The sources added the ministry has also installed new laboratories at the hospital as part of measures to contain the H1N1 swine flu infection. The sources explained, around KD 185,000 was spent by the ministry to provide medicines for patients at the hospital, in addition to other equipment set up at the Pediatric Department at a cost of KD 10, 543.

Furthermore, the new laboratories are expected to detect diseases such as HIV, AIDS and hepatitis, the sources indicated.

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