Saudi Arabia confirms 2nd swine flu fatality

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health has reported the kingdom's second death from the swine flu virus in less than a week, reported PressTV.

The ministry said in a statement that the 28-year-old Indonesian expatriate died of the disease early Thursday.

According to Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the victim was rushed to hospital in the eastern city of Dammam last Monday after testing positive of the H1N1-A virus.

On Monday, Saudi Arabia registered its first swine flu death when a 30-year-old Saudi man was struck down by the virus despite receiving the required antibiotics and the anti-flu drug Tamiflu. He was admitted to hospital because of high fever, cough and breathing difficulties last Wednesday.

According to Saudi health officials, the number of swine flu cases in the country has already exceeded 300.

The death adds to worries as millions of Muslim pilgrims from all over the world visit the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, in the west of the kingdom.