The Saudi health minister Abdullah al-Rabia on Wednesday confirmed a Filipino nurse was being treated for swine flu virus. This is the first case detected in the kingdom. According to sources in Saudi Arabia, the nurse has just returned from her vaccation in the Philippines.

Ahead of this announcement, there were reports that the annual Hajj pilgrimage will be affected. However, Saudi officials said the kingdom would not bar pilgrims from countries that have reported cases of swine flu.