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200 Iranians suspected of having A(H1N1)

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-07-14 21:18

TEHRAN: Iranian health officials said Tuesday that 200 Iranians are suspected of having been infected with the influenza A(H1N1) virus, local satellite Press TV reported.

"While we have only had one confirmed case of A(H1N1) flu, 200 others are suspected of the disease," head of Iran's disease control center under the Health Ministry Mohammad-Mehdi Gouya said.

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Iranian "health authorities have decided to enforce restrictions on Hajj pilgrimage as the latest figures showed 150 individuals have tested positive for A(H1N1) flu in Saudi Arabia," Gouya was quoted as saying.

In June, Iran's Ministry of Health announced the first case of influenza A(H1N1) in the country, the official IRNA news agency reported.

A 16-year-old teenager returning from the United States was tested positive, the report said, quoting Iran's Health Ministry.

The ministry advised Iranians to avoid unnecessary trips to countries such as Mexico, Canada, Thailand, Britain and Germany which witness a high rate of the novel flu.

As a means to confront the flu epidemic disease in the country, Iran has established a committee which includes four ministers and two vice presidents.

The influenza A(H1N1) is a contagious respiratory disease which is a mixture of bird, pig and human gene. The virus can spread to people through contact with infected pigs and infected persons.