JEDDAH: The Health Observation Center at King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) in Jeddah vaccinated 67,905 foreign pilgrims against dengue fever and yellow fever since Haj pilgrims began arriving at the airport for this year’s Haj, said the center’s director Abdul Ghani Al-Malki.

“The center, which receives 65 percent of foreign pilgrims coming to Makkah, has observed that the general health of pilgrims is satisfactory this year,” Al-Malki said. The dengue fever vaccine is only administered to pilgrims who did not take it in their home countries, he added.

“The center had also supplied polio vaccines to 195,927 children since the beginning of the Haj season,” he said.

He said the preventive measures taken against swine flu in KAIA are one of the best in the world.

“A separate way is set apart for incoming passengers suspected to be carriers of the disease. The thermal camera installed at the arrival lounge identifies people with high temperature. Specialist doctors examine travellers who come under suspicion.

Those who show H1N1 virus symptoms are sent to King Saud Hospital, which handles swine flu cases. The center has also made arrangements to prevent healthy people mixing with suspected cases. Al-Malki added that health regulations require that an aircraft coming from another country should be fumigated. Director General of Health Affairs in Makkah Khaled Zafar said special stress was being placed on preventive medicine.

“Twenty five beds in the 100-bed King Saud Hospital in Jeddah have been earmarked for intensive care in preventive health services to pilgrims arriving through KAIA,” he said.

Meanwhile, the General Directorate of Health Affairs completed preparations to serve Haj pilgrims in Makkah, the holy sites of Mina, Arafat, Muzdalifah and Jeddah.

The Ajyad Emergency Hospital close to the Grand Mosque has been refurbished with 52 beds spread over an area of 3,000 square meters. The hospital’s isolation ward has five beds. The King Faisal Hospital has been refurbished and is double its previous capacity.

Ibn Sina Hospital has also been expanded and now has additional space for 100 beds.

The Mina Valley Hospital has been reconstructed according to modern specifications with 194 beds.

The Mina Bridge Hospital has been totally renovated and now has a capacity for 140 beds. The New Mina Street Hospital has 50 beds.