Saudi Arabia, Israel report first cases of death from swine flu

According tot the Saudi Arabia Health Ministry, a Saudi citizen died of swine flu Saturday.  It was the First death recorded in the kingdom from Influenza A/H1N1, and the second in the Middle East.  The 30-year-old man entered the hospital Wednesday complaining of coughing, high fever, and trouble breathing.  He was treated with Tamiflu and other antibiotics but his condition deteriorated. 

Health ministers banned children and the elderly from attending this year’s Umrah and Haj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia due to fears of the spread of the disease.  Saudi Arabia has 294 reported cases of the swine flu, more than any other Arab country.

Meanwhile, the Israeli Health Ministry confirmed on Monday that a 35 year old, who died on Saturday, was in fact ill with the H1N1 virus, Haaretz reported. The ministry did not, however, confirm whether his death had been caused by the virus. He was admitted to hospital in the southern city of Eilat with pneumonia symptoms.