( CNN ) -- Saudi Arabia has had its first death from swine flu , its Ministry of Health said Monday , bracing for more . The patient -- a 30-year-old man who lived in the country 's Eastern Province -- was admitted to a hospital in the city of Dammam on Wednesday with a high fever , cough and shortness of breath . He died Saturday . Saudi Arabia has diagnosed more than 230 cases of the H1N1 virus this year . In the past few weeks , a debate about the virus has erupted in the Middle East . Of particular concern is how to keep it from spreading among the millions of visitors expected in Saudi Arabia during this year 's Hajj -- a pilgrimage required of Muslims at least once in their lives . On Wednesday , Arab health ministers held an emergency summit in Cairo , Egypt , to discuss the issue . Guidelines were issued , banning various groups from participating in this year 's Hajj -- children under 12 , adults over 65 and people with chronic diseases . Saudi Arabia recommended that pregnant women stay home as well . At the close of the meeting , Saudi Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah told CNN that , in all , Saudi Arabia had issued 15 recommendations to help ensure the safety and health of pilgrims participating in the Hajj . `` The most important of those is , first of all , that they should take the seasonal flu vaccine two weeks prior to Hajj , '' Al-Rabeeah said . Even with the guidelines in place , World Health Organization spokesman Dr. Ebrahim el Khordany acknowledged that it wo n't be easy keeping potential pilgrims away . El Khordany told CNN , `` It was discussed in detail how it 's going to be worked out between the country and Saudi Arabia to find out the best way to do it and , of course , to make sure that people do n't try to use their connections to get their visas or to get to go to Saudi , because people are really very keen to go to the pilgrimage . '' The Saudi government has also said it will set up quarantine centers at airports as another preventative measure .
30-year-old man dies in hospital after suffering high fever , cough , shortness of breath . Saudi Arabia has diagnosed more than 230 cases of the H1N1 virus this year . Concern in Saudi over possible impact of virus on Hajj later this year . Saudi government says it will set up quarantine centers at airports .