| High-Tech Lab To Detect H1N1 Virus In Pilgrims |
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MECCA, Nov 7 (Bernama) -- The Saudi Arabian Government will soon set up a high-tech laboratory in Arafat to detect the H1N1 virus in pilgrims, ahead of the Aidil Adha this month, a Saudi Arabian English daily reported on Saturday.
According to the Arab News, Minister of Health Dr Abdullah Al-Rabeah has allayed whatever impending panic pertaining to the disease which he said, was like any other seasonal flu.
He said all necessary steps had been taken by hospitals to deal with the infection.
"A special feature of the hospitals is that they are both equipped with advanced medical apparatus and could be converted into intensive care units, should the need arise," he said after inspecting health facilities at holy sites on Friday.
Al-Rabeah said that health centres were also opened in Jeddah where a new 100-bed hospital was set up.
He also visited health centres in Arafat and a new 219-bed hospital which was built in Mina. There are 15 clinics in Mina with a total capacity of 140 beds.
He said in Mecca, there were about 100 clinics accomodating a total of 1,000 beds to serve the pilgrims. A fleet of over 150 ambulances, including 85 small vehicles, have also been deployed.
In another development, the newspaper also reported that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah, had ordered the hosting of 1,000 Haj pilgrims from various countries this year, as part of a guest pilgrims programme supervised by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowment, Call and Guidance.
"The royal gesture shows the interest of the king in the welfare of Muslims the world over, and his desire to strengthen Islamic relations based on the holy Quran and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet," Islamic Affairs Minister Saleh Al-Asheikh was quoted as saying.
The minister said the guests would be drawn from Eastern Europe, the Balkans, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Asia and Africa.
-- BERNAMA
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