Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09RIYADH901
2009-07-08 15:06:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:
SAUDI H1N1 UPDATE: HEALTH MINISTER DISCUSSES HAJJ
how-toVZCZCXRO9859 PP RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHDIR DE RUEHRH #0901 1891506 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 081506Z JUL 09 FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1139 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA PRIORITY RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS RIYADH 000901
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP (HARRIS)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL TBIO KFLU CASC ASEC AMGT SA
SUBJECT: SAUDI H1N1 UPDATE: HEALTH MINISTER DISCUSSES HAJJ
PREP WITH CHARGE, 137 CASES TO DATE
HEALTH MINISTER MEETS CDA
--------------------------
UNCLAS RIYADH 000901
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP (HARRIS)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL TBIO KFLU CASC ASEC AMGT SA
SUBJECT: SAUDI H1N1 UPDATE: HEALTH MINISTER DISCUSSES HAJJ
PREP WITH CHARGE, 137 CASES TO DATE
HEALTH MINISTER MEETS CDA
--------------
1. (SBU) Charge d'Affaires Ambassador Erdman met with Health
Minister Dr. Abdullah al-Rabeeah on July 8 to discuss Saudi
healthcare issues including H1N1 preparation for the upcoming
Hajj. Rabeeah noted that the Ministry's plan follows the 15
recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and World
Health Organization as provided after the June 27-July 1 H1N1
workshop in Jeddah. If the strain remains mild, the Ministry
will gradually treat H1N1 like seasonal flu as is being done
in the United States and Canada, he said. Rabeeah said the
new Assistant Undersecretary (referred to as Deputy Minister)
for Preventive Medicine, Dr. Ziyad Maymash, is an infectious
disease control expert by training. The Minister also
introduced an International Coordinator for the Ministry, Dr.
Taha Ali Melibary.
137 CONFIRMED CASES, HAJJ PREP CONTINUES
--------------
2. (SBU) The Ministry of Health (MOH) announced July 8 that
the number of confirmed cases of H1N1 in Saudi Arabia since
June 3 has risen to 137. There have been no known H1N1
fatalities to date in the country, and 80 H1N1 patients had
been released from hospitals as of July 2. In preparation
for the upcoming pilgrimage season, the Council of Ministers
encouraged all countries to instruct their Hajj and Umrah
pilgrims to follow the recommendations of the H1N1 Jeddah
workshop. The recommendations include monitoring of entry
points, vaccination of all pilgrims and health care providers
once a vaccine is available, and urging pilgrims to practice
good hygeine. The Deputy Minister for Preventive Medicine
said quarantine facilities had been arranged at airport
arrival lounges to isolate Hajj and Umrah pilgrims with H1N1
symptoms.
3. (SBU) Agence France Press reported on July 4 that the
Tunisian government suspended travel to Mecca for Umrah.
Econoff called the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Tunisian
Embassy in Riyadh to confirm the story, and he said that he
had not heard about the measure.
ERDMAN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP (HARRIS)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL TBIO KFLU CASC ASEC AMGT SA
SUBJECT: SAUDI H1N1 UPDATE: HEALTH MINISTER DISCUSSES HAJJ
PREP WITH CHARGE, 137 CASES TO DATE
HEALTH MINISTER MEETS CDA
--------------
1. (SBU) Charge d'Affaires Ambassador Erdman met with Health
Minister Dr. Abdullah al-Rabeeah on July 8 to discuss Saudi
healthcare issues including H1N1 preparation for the upcoming
Hajj. Rabeeah noted that the Ministry's plan follows the 15
recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and World
Health Organization as provided after the June 27-July 1 H1N1
workshop in Jeddah. If the strain remains mild, the Ministry
will gradually treat H1N1 like seasonal flu as is being done
in the United States and Canada, he said. Rabeeah said the
new Assistant Undersecretary (referred to as Deputy Minister)
for Preventive Medicine, Dr. Ziyad Maymash, is an infectious
disease control expert by training. The Minister also
introduced an International Coordinator for the Ministry, Dr.
Taha Ali Melibary.
137 CONFIRMED CASES, HAJJ PREP CONTINUES
--------------
2. (SBU) The Ministry of Health (MOH) announced July 8 that
the number of confirmed cases of H1N1 in Saudi Arabia since
June 3 has risen to 137. There have been no known H1N1
fatalities to date in the country, and 80 H1N1 patients had
been released from hospitals as of July 2. In preparation
for the upcoming pilgrimage season, the Council of Ministers
encouraged all countries to instruct their Hajj and Umrah
pilgrims to follow the recommendations of the H1N1 Jeddah
workshop. The recommendations include monitoring of entry
points, vaccination of all pilgrims and health care providers
once a vaccine is available, and urging pilgrims to practice
good hygeine. The Deputy Minister for Preventive Medicine
said quarantine facilities had been arranged at airport
arrival lounges to isolate Hajj and Umrah pilgrims with H1N1
symptoms.
3. (SBU) Agence France Press reported on July 4 that the
Tunisian government suspended travel to Mecca for Umrah.
Econoff called the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Tunisian
Embassy in Riyadh to confirm the story, and he said that he
had not heard about the measure.
ERDMAN