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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‘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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