Saudi Arabia will soon launch an early warning system to monitor infectious diseases. The system is well into its development and will immediately report any suspected cases of infectious diseases, said Dr. Amin A. Mishkas, Director of the Infectious Diseases division at the Department of Preventive Medicine of the Ministry of Health. Mishkas said the project aims to control disease outbreaks wherever they may occur in the Kingdom. The system will cover some 300 government and private hospitals, 1,900 primary health care centers and health care personnel all over the Kingdom through a computer network that can be operated using mobile phones and laptops. Saudi Arabia's location at the very junction that links Africa, Asia and Europe, along with the intense traffic of international travelers, including millions of Haj and Umra pilgrims every year, the presence of more than six million foreign workers, and globalization, are all factors in making the Kingdom more susceptible to infectious diseases which, if left unabated, can turn into epidemics, he said. Infectious diseases reported in Saudi Arabia so far included Rift Valley fever, meningococcal meningitis and cholera. Mishkas said a seminar held in Dammam on Tuesday under the banner of strengthening cooperation between MoH and government and private health care institutions aimed to educate people about the importance of early reporting of cases of infectious diseases. Around 50 health care experts from the public and private sectors attended the seminar which highlighted the need for developing a mechanism for early reporting of any outbreaks. The participants also underlined the significance of sharing information with international agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the US-based Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Agriculture Organization. Mishkas said the Kingdom has already adopted an effective system of monitoring infectious diseases through regional committees of medical experts, who meet four times a year and discuss epidemiological developments in the country. The Kingdom has already set up the National Bird Flu Committee. Kishkas said, however, that the Kingdom still needs a computerized system that electronically networks all health care facilities and personnel in both public and private sectors, and gives an early warning for effective and timely control of any possible epidemics. MoH has already launched the early warning project about a year ago. The project will facilitate immediate reporting and notification of any infectious diseases which can occur in the Kingdom. “I cannot give a time frame for when it will be up and running, but the system is well under development,” said Mishkas. The most serious threats of communicable diseases to the Kingdom, such as pandemic flu transmitted among people, and some animal diseases, could cause serious economic losses, he said. Mishkas added that brochures are being distributed to health care personnel with information about infectious diseases and geographical maps for immediate reporting, as part of health awareness program. __
