Saudi Arabia sends letter to Azerbaijani Health Ministry concerning Hajj pilgrimage

The letter says those wishing to make pilgrimage should be vaccinated against seasonal flu, Gasimov said.

“Otherwise, they will not be allowed to  make pilgrimage. But Caucasian Muslims Office has not appealed to the ministry yet,” he added.

Gasimov said the situation with seasonal diseases is not dangerous in Azerbaijan.

“We monitor respiratory infections in Baku, Sumgayit and Gandja. The results of the monitoring show that the level of infection is low,” he said.

Deputy chief of Republic Anti-Plague Station Shair Gurbanov said 795 patients with high temperature were examined in the station. Only 2 of them were tested positive.

Preventive measures are being taken to prevent spread of the virus. Isolation wards, artificial respiration devices, medications have been prepared.

According to the recent reports of the World Health Organization (WHO), 209,438 cases of AH1N1 infection were recorded in over 170 countries with 2,185 fatal cases.

Experts warn against a new wave of swine flu in autumn.

WHO program coordinator Elkhan Gasimov said that the organization is not going to offer assistance to Azerbaijani government concerning the new wave of the virus, because WHO have provided necessary medicines to Azerbaijan for treatment of 10,000 people.

Moreover, Azerbaijan has not applied for additional medicines.

Gasimov said Azerbaijan follows all WHO recommendations.

/APA/