GENEVA, May 22 (KUNA) -- World Health Organization's (WHO) Assistant Director-General Dr Keiji Fukuda said Friday that discussions between the WHO and the Saudi authorities about the Hajj is underway as to what steps can be taken to reduce the chance of infection and that these discussions will continue through the next several weeks.
Dr. Fukuda said that the Hajj is a unique religious occasion for Muslims and that the Saudi authorities have to take measures not against this new virus but other viruses as well.
On raising the Pandemic level from 5 to 6, Dr. Fukuda said that this is related to what impact the virus has on the population and that there is an increase in the risk level.
The WHO announced that the virus is now present in 42 countries with 11,168 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection, including 86 deaths.
Swiss health authorities announced today the second case of H1N1 virus and explained that a woman, 24 years old, who recently returned from Mexico, was confirmed with the virus and that she is currently in isolation in the Bern hospital. (end) hn.tg KUNA 222004 May 09NNNN