Saudi health minister advices travelers to flu-stricken areas to be cautious

GCC health ministers discuss means to combat pandemic, Arab health ministers meet in Riyadh

Mexico says virus is "in phase of descent"

Reaching anti-flu vaccine could take months

Ministry of Health has advised citizens and expatriates to exercise caution and vigilance when traveling to countries affected by swine flu ( H1N1 A/), especially Mexico, which registers a surge in cases of death and disease on an ongoing basis since it is described as the most affected country by swine flu, according to the World Health Organization's reports.

In a statement, the Minister of Health explained that in line with the Royal directives based on the keenness of the Government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on the health and safety of citizens and expatriates living on its territory, it is taking all necessary measures to counter the disease of swine flu (A / H1N1), in the framework of the precautionary measures already taken by the ministry.

Meanwhile, the Extraordinary Meeting for the Executive Bureau of the Council of Arab Health Ministers was concluded.

In a press conference following the meeting, Minister of Health Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, who is also the Head of the Executive Bureau of the Council of Arab Health Ministers, said that the Executive Bureau issued "Riyadh Declaration" in which it stressed the importance of coordinating and integrating efforts among Arab countries to confront swine influenza A(H1N1), praising the initiative of the Saudi Government under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz to convene this extraordinary meeting.

Executive Bureau approved the formation of a committee of experts to review the proposed Saudi advisory plan and all Arab plans in order to take advantage of different experiences to formulate a unified plan.

Riyadh Declaration issued several decisions, including the activation of exchanging information, consultation and coordination with relevant international organizations and bodies such as the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the provision of an appropriate strategic stock of anti-retroviral drugs in every country.

The Executive Bureau encouraged Arab countries to locally manufacture such drugs and ensure the compliance with international standards.

The participants in the meeting reviewed the phenomenon of swine flu.

Speaking on the occasion, health minister and head of the executive bureau for the council of the Arab health ministers Dr Abdullah al-Rabee'a said the Saudi health ministry has taken the required precautionary measures to confront this epidemic.

He noted that an integrated national plan was set based on the recommendations of the world health organization (WHO) and the infection combating caners in the US and a modern directory was issued.

He noted that the world is facing a real challenge due to the spread of this disease to 21 countries and infection of about 1085 persons.

Dr. Rabee'a said several countries of the world have started to take the required measures for confronting the disease.

He pointed out that the meeting, organized by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, aims at unification of and coordination of efforts as well as exchange of experience.

The number of confirmed human swine flu cases in the United States has risen to 64, with at least seven patients having been hospitalized, while President Barack Obama asked Congress for 1.5 billion U.S. dollars to enhance U.S. and global capacity to respond to the potential spread of swine flu. "I fully expect we will see deaths from this infection," as swine flu cases are investigated, said Richard Besser, acting director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta on Tuesday.

According to Besser, the hospitalizations include three in California and two in Texas. Their ages ranged from seven to 54. Later, New York said two people had been hospitalized.

However, the CDC reported no new infection sites beyond five states already afflicted. Besser said there are 45 confirmed cases in New York City, 10 in California, six in Texas, two in Kansas and one in Ohio. However, at least four other cases have been reported by states.

"We are in a pre-pandemic period," the official said, adding that the CDC is stepping up laboratory cultivation of the swine flu virus for an eventual vaccine.

Based on the latest lab analysis, Besser said new flu infections are still occurring. He noted, by comparison, that ordinary human flu accounts for about 36,000 deaths every year in the United States.

The White House has asked Congress for 1.5 billion dollars to fight a swine flu outbreak that has killed scores of people in Mexico. President Barack Obama sent a letter to lawmakers on Tuesday, asking them for a supplemental spending plan to build drug stockpiles and monitor future cases.

Obama said in a letter to Congress read out by spokesman Robert Gibbs that the request was made "out of an abundance of caution" in order to "enhance our nation's capability to respond to the potential spread of this outbreak."

He assured Congress that the administration was "cooperating with international organizations and health officials around the globe."

"Among the uses of these funds could be supplementing anti-viral stockpiles, developing a vaccine, supporting the monitoring, diagnostic and public health response capabilities and assisting international efforts to stem this outbreak," he said.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency on Tuesday in response to the growing concern about the spread of swine flu, freeing up resources to combat the possible outbreak across the state.

The declaration came two days after U.S. health officials declared a public health emergency on Sunday related to the swine flu outbreak. There are 64 confirmed cases across the country as of Tuesday.

In issuing the statewide emergency declaration, which would "cut government red tape" and free up health resources, Schwarzenegger stressed that there was no need for general alarm.

Meanwhile, California became the first in the country on Tuesday with the ability to conduct its own swine flu testing without having to send samples to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta.

In Los Angeles, public health officials were investigating two recent deaths that are possibly related to swine flu, and would be the first reported deaths in the United States from the outbreak if confirmed.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said on Tuesday that the city's confirmed swine flu cases could be much higher than 45 as reported by the CDC.

All the confirmed cases so far are from one high school in the city's Queens district, though authorities are probing a second school nearby for possible cases.

Bloomberg warned that the number of confirmed cases in St. Francis Preparatory School could go much higher if all of the more than 100 students there were tested.

"We can get a lot more by just testing everybody at St. Francis," the mayor told a press conference. "You'll be shocked if out of the other 100 plus students who have a cough and a fever don't have it."

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and the head of the Department of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, insisted on Tuesday that U.S. food supply is safe and pork meat does not transmit the swine influenza virus.

"The American food supply is safe," they said in a statement.

In their statement, Kirk and Vilsack cited references from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the CDC statements that there was no evidence of swine flu being transmitted by meat.

"Swine influenza viruses are not spread by food. You cannot get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products," the statements said. "Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe."

Stressing potential concerns about the safety of U.S. pork and pork products, Vilsack stated that "while there is no evidence at this time that swine has been infected with this virus, the science is clear that consuming or handling pork, consistent with safe handling practices, is of no risk to consumers."

Kirk, the top U.S. trade negotiator, urged all trading partners to base any food safety measures taken to protect their populations on scientific evidence and in accordance with their international obligations.

"Restrictions on U.S. pork or pork products or any meat products from the United States resulting from the recent outbreak do not appear to be based on scientific evidence and may result in serious trade disruptions without cause," Kirk said.

Swine flu refers to influenza caused by any strain of the influenza virus that is endemic in pigs. Till now, more than 150 people have died in Mexico in an outbreak of the virus.

Dozens of other cases have been confirmed worldwide.

The WHO raised its pandemic alert level on Monday from Phase 3 to Phase 4, which means the swine flu virus can cause sustained human-to-human transmission and "community-level outbreaks."

In Cairo, The 22-member Arab League said on Tuesday it was setting up a health ministry alert network because of the continuing global crisis over swine flu, or influenza A(H1N1).

After a meeting in Riyadh of the executive committee of members' health ministries, Saudi Health Minister Abdullah al-Rabia underlined "the importance of exchanging information and expertise, and immediately informing other countries of suspected cases" of the disease.

It was decided to name an official in each health ministry responsible for liaising with counterparts in other member states, a league statement said.

The official Saudi SPA news agency said the Arab League also planned a committee of experts to draw up contingency plans to fight the disease. No cases of swine flu have yet been reported in Arab states.

SPA said the league communiqué also stressed the need for prevention campaigns and coordinating with international bodies such as the World Health Organization.

Mexico is getting on top of the swine flu epidemic, its president has declared, even as the head of the WHO warned a second wave of the potentially deadly virus could strike "with a vengeance".

President Felipe Calderon said in an interview broadcast late Sunday that Mexico, the epicenter of the outbreak where 22 people have died, had managed "to contain the epidemic" that has affected 18 countries in total.

"We are in a position to overcome" the H1N1 flu virus", Calderon said in an interview broadcast on state television and radio.

"We have been able to hold or at least reduce the rate of propagation of the virus to contain the epidemic," he said, adding there were 568 infected people in the country, not including those who had died.

His health minister, Jose Angel Cordova, had earlier told a news conference the epidemic was "in its phase of decline", adding that it had peaked between April 23 and 28.

Cordova also said a wide-ranging shutdown of public areas in Mexico City such as restaurants, cafes, bars, clubs, cinemas, theatres and gyms was likely to be lifted Wednesday amid concerns the lockdown was hurting Mexico's economy.

But the news coming out of Mexico City contrasted sharply with an interview published Monday with the chief of the World Health Organization, Margaret Chan, who said declining mortality rates did not mean the worst was over.

Chan told Britain's Financial Times that a second wave of the virus "would be the biggest of all outbreaks the world has faced in the 21st century".

"We hope the virus fizzles out, because if it doesn't we are heading for a big outbreak," she was quoted as saying.

"I'm not predicting the pandemic will blow up, but if I miss it and we don't prepare, I fail. I'd rather over-prepare than not prepare."

A total of 23 people have died, 22 of them in Mexico, and the WHO estimates nearly 900 cases of infections in the global flu crisis.

In China, Beijing on Monday attempted to head off a diplomatic spat with Mexico, denying it was discriminating against Mexican nationals in China.

There has been one confirmed case of A(H1N1) flu in China so far -- a Mexican man detected in the southern territory of Hong Kong. It was the first definite case in Asia.

Mexican diplomats on Sunday complained bitterly about the treatment of their countrymen, saying dozens had been placed under quarantine despite showing no signs of swine flu.

China answered the allegations on Monday, with foreign ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu saying in a statement posted on the ministry's website: "The relevant measures are not directed at Mexican citizens and are not discriminatory."

A Mexican embassy official told AFP late Sunday there were nearly 70 Mexicans quarantined across China including in Beijing, Shanghai and the southern city of Guangzhou.

The WHO has issued a level five warning, but on Sunday warned that it could soon raise its global pandemic alert level to a maximum of six and stressed that any fresh outbreaks of the virus in pigs must be contained and monitored.

The global body pointed to the risk of further spread in humans after a herd of pigs in Canada was infected with the H1N1 flu strain, believed to be the first instance of human to swine transmission, Canadian authorities said.

Top officials in the United States, where the illness was confirmed in more than half of the country's 50 states, also continue to be more guarded than their counterparts in Mexico.

They said while the United States may have escaped the worst of the swine flu outbreak, the real test could come when seasonal flu becomes a factor in a few months.

The WHO says it has no doubt that a swine flu vaccine will be produced in several months.

Cases of swine flu have been confirmed in 14 countries around the world, predominantly in Mexico where it is believed more than 100 people have died.

Two Australian men who live in London have also been diagnosed with the virus.

The WHO's Marie-Paule Kieny says they are working with the US Centre for Disease Control on a vaccine specifically for swine flu.

Kieny says she has no doubt a vaccine can be made in a relatively short time period.

"What is a relatively short period of time when a pandemic is imminent? Of course we would like to have a vaccine tomorrow," she said.

"The reality is from the time potentially a pandemic virus is identified, it takes between four and six months to have the first doses of the vaccine coming out of the factory and being available for immunising people.

"Serum from vaccinated people have been tested by the CDC in Atlanta, in the US, and for the time being, the results show that there is very little chance that seasonal vaccine would be effective against this particular virus."

Meanwhile the Mexican Health Minister says the swine flu virus may not be as aggressive as initially feared.

Jose Angel Cordova says the virus is very contagious, but patients who are treated quickly respond well to anti-viral medicine.

Much of Mexico has come to a stand-still after the Government urged people to stay home for a five-day period to try to combat the spread of the disease.

Cordova says he is optimistic that the worst is over. "There are some facts that give us hope, however this has to be progressively consolidated," he said.

"There has been a progressive decline over the course of 10 days. This makes us hopeful."