Many places where large numbers of people congregate have yet to take measures to curb the spread of the swine flu virus that has so far killed four people and infected 595 others in the Kingdom. Locations such as the Kingdom Tower and the Faisaliya Center in the nation's capital, which currently witness thousands of visitors a day due to the closure of schools for the holidays, are sadly lacking in not only disinfectants and cleaning materials but also in the most basic of information services. Recreation centers, grocery stores and restaurants are no different, and the public is concerned. “Warning notices with advice on how to protect oneself from swine flu could be put up alongside all these sales advertisements in malls,” said father of four Abdullah Al-Shehri while out shopping in the upmarket district of Olaya. “Some good things have been done in Jeddah, such as disinfecting shopping carts, and I'd like to see the authorities make similar efforts for public health in Riyadh,” Al-Shehri said. Minister of Health Abdullah Al-Rabeah urged the media Sunday to play a greater role in combating the spread of the virus. “We need the help of the media in publishing ministry recommendations and improving awareness on how to provide protection from swine flu,” Al-Rabeah said in an almost implicit recognition of a failure to address the situation in public spaces. The ministry has been working to increase awareness in the public and private health sectors through workshops, distributing information and making visits to health facilities to ensure the issue receives the required attention, but, Al-Rabeah admitted, this is not enough. “To reach the public the health ministry needs the media to publish information on precautionary measures that could protect people from the A-H1N1 virus,” he said. Ziad Memish of the ministry's Preventive Health Department said a series of measures was under study for a public health campaign, and warned people to be aware that A-H1N1 is a new strain of influenza with different behavioral characteristics. “The Ministry of Health will be providing posters and information pamphlets aimed at people visiting public places,” Memish said. Moves for more practical measures such as the provision of disinfectants and sterilizing materials in public places will remain, however, strictly local. “It will take some time before such measures are taken up at a national level,” Memish said.
