The Ministry of Health has confirmed seven cases of the Al-Khurma hemorrhagic influenza in Makkah and Najran, but this was not cause for any alarm, according to Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeah. He said that there was a high rate of recovery from the flu even though there is no specific medicine to treat sufferers. Al-Rabeah was speaking in Riyadh Sunday at the launch of an international scientific workshop which was being held to formulate a plan to counter the Al-Khurma disease. Also present at the event was Dr. Fahd Balghunaim, Minister of Agriculture. Al-Rabeah assured the public that there was no need to be concerned because there have only been a limited number of people afflicted with the disease since 1994. He said the workshop was being held in terms of royal directives to take preventative measures against the disease. “The ministry and related authorities have taken many preventive and precautionary measures against the Al-Khurma disease,” he said. Al-Rabeah said that joint committees and working teams consisting of experts from the Kingdom and abroad have been formed to develop a national plan for countering the Al-Khurma hemorrhagic flu. The teams would determine the epidemiological characteristics of the disease, the way it is transmitted, and develop methods of combating and controlling the disease and preventing it from spreading. In his speech, Balghunaim dealt with the support the leadership provides to the health sector. He said the participation of the Ministry of Agriculture in efforts to counter the disease was a national duty. Dr. Ziyad Meimish, Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for Preventive Medicine, gave a brief history of the disease. Then the participants were divided into working groups to discuss the national plan. The Al-Khurma virus is passed on to humans by ticks that live in animals such as sheep, goats and camels. Pets such as cats and rabbits can also carry the ticks. Preventive measures include wearing gloves when handling raw uncooked meat. Also, livestock should be checked periodically to ensure that they are free of ticks. Suitable insecticides should be used to kill the insects on the animals. Furthermore, people should not drink un
