Source: ArabianBusiness.com 8 September 2009
===============
Nurseries in Dubai, but not Abu Dhabi, will be closed as a precaution against the spread of H1N1.
UAE officials have closed all Dubai nurseries and deferred teaching at special needs centres to prevent the spread of swine flu, as the virus claims a further two lives.
A 75-year-old man and an eight month-old baby, both UAE nationals, were the latest victims of H1N1, the Ministry of Health announced on Tuesday.
Their deaths bring the total number of people killed by the virus to six.
The baby suffered heart disease and had received treatment in US, while the elderly man suffered from shortness of breath and chronic diseases, the official news agency WAM reported.Dr Hanif Hassan, the Minister of Health, urged people not to panic. “The situation is under control; do not panic. I think the country made all the right efforts to prepare for the virus at the beginning,” he told the National.
“The point is [the virus] is here; it is wherever you go in the world. So we must remember that it does not need to be dangerous if it is found and treated early. The death rate is very low.”Dr Ali bin Shakar, the undersecretary of the Ministry of Health and chairman of the National Committee to Combat Swine Flu, told the paper:
“We have already ordered enough vaccine to cover between 10 and 15 per cent of the population in line with recommendations from the World Health Organisation. We will also implement it following the recommendations.”Meanwhile, the Ministry of Social Affairs ordered the closure of nurseries in a bid to prevent further swine flu cases, a move that will be troublesome for many working parents who rely on childcare services.The ministry said it took the decision as a precaution, in line with guidance from the World Health Organisation. Teaching at special needs centres will also be delayed. Marian Mohammed Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of Social Affairs, told WAM the policy was to protect young children and vulnerable adults from the potentially lethal virus.Education officials in Abu Dhabi announced a swine flu action plan for all schools in the emirate on Tuesday. Schools will not close under the plan, but step-by-step instructions on what action to take should a pupil or member of staff be infected have been issued.
In Kuwait, the Education Ministry has postponed classes of kindergarten children and children with special needs for two months.Education Assistant Undersecretary for Private Education, Fahad Al-Ghais, said the decision was sent to the union of private schools, KUNA News Agency reported.
Showing posts with label swine flu. Show all posts
Showing posts with label swine flu. Show all posts
Wednesday, 9 September 2009
Wednesday, 29 July 2009
The typical symptoms of swine flu.
According to the NHS website in the UK, the typical symptoms of swine flu are:
- sudden fever (a high body temperature of 38°C/100.4°F or above), and
- sudden cough
Other symptoms may include:
- headache,
- tiredness,
- chills,
- aching muscles,
- limb or joint pain,
- diarrhoea or stomach upset,
- sore throat,
- runny nose,
- sneezing, and
- loss of appetite.
Tuesday, 28 July 2009
No they won't.
Radical concept maybe but why not have a designated spokesperson to avoid, in the morning, having Official X making announcements to the press followed in the afternoon by a complete denial by Official Y.
Sorry, yes, crazy talk, what was I thinking....I'd better go and have a cup of tea and a lie down...
Source: ArabianBusiness.com
====================================
The UAE Ministry of Health has strongly denied it will demand expatriates in the UAE on holiday abroad to produce a medical certificate proving they are not infected with swine flu before returning to the country.An unnamed source within the National Supervisory Committee for Combating Swine Flu had been quoted in a media report on Tuesday as saying that from August any person with swine flu symptoms without the certificate would be refused entry to the UAE .But a senior health official has since quashed suggestions the government planned to take this action.
"The news about this issue is completely untrue," said Dr Ali bin Shuker, director of the Ministry of Health and Chairman of the Technical Health Committee for Combating Swine Flu, speaking later on Tuesday, in a report by WAM news agency.He also denied suggestions, in the same report by UAE daily Gulf News, that shopping malls would be provided with thermal scanners to detect people with the virus. "The idea was not even included on the agenda of the two committees," he said.The National Supervisory Committee for Combating Swine Flu was committed to standards set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to fight the virus, he said.He said the authorities were striving to implement a public awareness plan about the virus in cooperation with other government stakeholders including ministries of education and higher education and the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowment."The National Supervisory Committee for Combating Swine Flu is handling issues regarding this disease with transparency and clarity out of its keenness for the safety of the public," he said.The committee kept the public informed about the latest developments on swine flu through weekly updates every Monday or interviews officials gave to TV, radio and other media outlets, he added.The two committees are government organisations set up to fight the spread of the virus.The Ministry of Health said on Monday that 11 patients with swine flu had been discharged from hospital after fully recovering from the virus.Thirty five more swine flu patients were still receiving treatment in hospital, with their condition described as stable, it said.
Sorry, yes, crazy talk, what was I thinking....I'd better go and have a cup of tea and a lie down...
Source: ArabianBusiness.com
====================================
The UAE Ministry of Health has strongly denied it will demand expatriates in the UAE on holiday abroad to produce a medical certificate proving they are not infected with swine flu before returning to the country.An unnamed source within the National Supervisory Committee for Combating Swine Flu had been quoted in a media report on Tuesday as saying that from August any person with swine flu symptoms without the certificate would be refused entry to the UAE .But a senior health official has since quashed suggestions the government planned to take this action.
"The news about this issue is completely untrue," said Dr Ali bin Shuker, director of the Ministry of Health and Chairman of the Technical Health Committee for Combating Swine Flu, speaking later on Tuesday, in a report by WAM news agency.He also denied suggestions, in the same report by UAE daily Gulf News, that shopping malls would be provided with thermal scanners to detect people with the virus. "The idea was not even included on the agenda of the two committees," he said.The National Supervisory Committee for Combating Swine Flu was committed to standards set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to fight the virus, he said.He said the authorities were striving to implement a public awareness plan about the virus in cooperation with other government stakeholders including ministries of education and higher education and the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowment."The National Supervisory Committee for Combating Swine Flu is handling issues regarding this disease with transparency and clarity out of its keenness for the safety of the public," he said.The committee kept the public informed about the latest developments on swine flu through weekly updates every Monday or interviews officials gave to TV, radio and other media outlets, he added.The two committees are government organisations set up to fight the spread of the virus.The Ministry of Health said on Monday that 11 patients with swine flu had been discharged from hospital after fully recovering from the virus.Thirty five more swine flu patients were still receiving treatment in hospital, with their condition described as stable, it said.
Expats will require swine flu certificate before returning to the UAE
Here's the latest idea; all expats must produce a certificate saying they are swine flu free each and every time they return to the UAE from overseas. Every business trip? Every holiday? After every weekend run to Muscat? Or does it mean that if you have *symptoms* you must get a doctor's certificate to confirm that whatever you have, it isn't H1N1? How will the immigration guys at the land borders decide who does or does not have a fever? The last crossing I did only a couple of weeks ago I didn't even have to get out of the car and they certainly didn't have scanners at the Fujeirah crossing.
If you're doing a visa run to Hatta or Wajajah and you're in Omani territory for maybe 30 minutes tops (depending on whether you have a coffee or not), do you have to get a doctor's certificate from the nearest town in Oman to say you're swine flu free? What tests is the doctor required to run? Will the certificate have to be in Arabic? How can a doctor who's never met a patient previously sign off on a certificate, when that patient is possibly be infected with H1N1 but not yet showing symptoms? We're off to Tanzania to do a safari so do we have to obtain a certificate from a doctor somewhere in Tanzania? I'm sure the few doctors that are in Tanzania have far better things to do.
Source: Gulf News
========================
Expatriates who are working in the UAE and are on vacation abroad will have to produce a medical certificate that proves they are not infected with H1N1 virus before returning to the country.
The move will be implemented from August.
A source from the National Committee for Combating Swine Flu also said that instructions have been issued to all airports, sea ports and land border points to quarantine any person suspected of having H1N1 symptoms upon entering the country.
"Without this certificate, any person with swine flu symptoms will be prohibited from entering the country. Accordingly, any company or establishment will have the right to cancel sponsorship, if the worker conceals an infection intentionally," the source said.
The source told Gulf News that the committee followed some infected cases with the H1N1 virus during the last few weeks and found that strict measures for containing the virus have to be taken.
The source also said that quarantining people infected with the virus, and not allowing them to be in touch with others in public locations such as markets, malls, cinemas and worship areas is vital in curbing the spread of the virus.
One of the important decisions taken by the committee is to provide malls with thermal scanners to detect those with high fever, before quarantining them. Strict instructions have also been issued to airlines to advise people coming to the UAE to contact the authorities if they have high fever.
This will help the committee to follow up their case and curb the virus from spreading. Airlines are also instructed to print brochures to increase awareness among passengers and to urge them to declare their health status.
The committee held a meeting on Sunday with officials at the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education to set up a plan for the new school year.
If you're doing a visa run to Hatta or Wajajah and you're in Omani territory for maybe 30 minutes tops (depending on whether you have a coffee or not), do you have to get a doctor's certificate from the nearest town in Oman to say you're swine flu free? What tests is the doctor required to run? Will the certificate have to be in Arabic? How can a doctor who's never met a patient previously sign off on a certificate, when that patient is possibly be infected with H1N1 but not yet showing symptoms? We're off to Tanzania to do a safari so do we have to obtain a certificate from a doctor somewhere in Tanzania? I'm sure the few doctors that are in Tanzania have far better things to do.
Source: Gulf News
========================
Expatriates who are working in the UAE and are on vacation abroad will have to produce a medical certificate that proves they are not infected with H1N1 virus before returning to the country.
The move will be implemented from August.
A source from the National Committee for Combating Swine Flu also said that instructions have been issued to all airports, sea ports and land border points to quarantine any person suspected of having H1N1 symptoms upon entering the country.
"Without this certificate, any person with swine flu symptoms will be prohibited from entering the country. Accordingly, any company or establishment will have the right to cancel sponsorship, if the worker conceals an infection intentionally," the source said.
The source told Gulf News that the committee followed some infected cases with the H1N1 virus during the last few weeks and found that strict measures for containing the virus have to be taken.
The source also said that quarantining people infected with the virus, and not allowing them to be in touch with others in public locations such as markets, malls, cinemas and worship areas is vital in curbing the spread of the virus.
One of the important decisions taken by the committee is to provide malls with thermal scanners to detect those with high fever, before quarantining them. Strict instructions have also been issued to airlines to advise people coming to the UAE to contact the authorities if they have high fever.
This will help the committee to follow up their case and curb the virus from spreading. Airlines are also instructed to print brochures to increase awareness among passengers and to urge them to declare their health status.
The committee held a meeting on Sunday with officials at the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education to set up a plan for the new school year.
Wednesday, 29 April 2009
UAE bans import and sale of pork 'as a precaution against swine flu'
From the Gulf News 29th April '09
------------------------------------
The UAE has banned the import and sale of pork in the country as a precautionary measure against swine flu, a senior official told Gulf News on Wednesday. General Secretariat of Municipalities [GSM] issued a circular on Monday banning import and sale of all types of pork in the country, Mohammad Jalal Al Reyaysa, Manager of Communication and Information Department at Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) said. The ban covers cooking the pork in hotels [for non Muslims], he added. GSM had already banned import of pork from Mexico and the US on Sunday, but extended it to a blanket ban, considering the alarming situation, Al Reyaysa said.
"Only two outlets in Abu Dhabi have the license to sell pork (for non-Muslims) and our inspectors have already informed them to remove the pork from the shelves," the official said.
UAE Ministry explores precautionary measures
A source from the Ministry of Health, who requested to remain anonymous, told Gulf News over the phone that the ministry is currently in talks with a technical group regarding precautionary plans and measures that should be practiced among hospitals and between people. "There is no specific vaccination or drug one can take to prevent swine flu, but there are technical procedures that should be put in place, that's why we contacted a technical team to help us prevent the condition from reaching the UAE." The World Health Organization (WHO) even though has no power to enforce any policies on different countries across the world with regards to swine flu, advises that ministries undergo their own pandemic flu plans. The WHO also recommends that vaccine makers keep making seasonal flu vaccine instead of switching over to a new one that matches the swine flu strain, but it urged them to start the process of picking a pandemic strain, weakening it and making large batches of it, which could take six months.
------------------------------------
The UAE has banned the import and sale of pork in the country as a precautionary measure against swine flu, a senior official told Gulf News on Wednesday. General Secretariat of Municipalities [GSM] issued a circular on Monday banning import and sale of all types of pork in the country, Mohammad Jalal Al Reyaysa, Manager of Communication and Information Department at Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) said. The ban covers cooking the pork in hotels [for non Muslims], he added. GSM had already banned import of pork from Mexico and the US on Sunday, but extended it to a blanket ban, considering the alarming situation, Al Reyaysa said.
"Only two outlets in Abu Dhabi have the license to sell pork (for non-Muslims) and our inspectors have already informed them to remove the pork from the shelves," the official said.
UAE Ministry explores precautionary measures
A source from the Ministry of Health, who requested to remain anonymous, told Gulf News over the phone that the ministry is currently in talks with a technical group regarding precautionary plans and measures that should be practiced among hospitals and between people. "There is no specific vaccination or drug one can take to prevent swine flu, but there are technical procedures that should be put in place, that's why we contacted a technical team to help us prevent the condition from reaching the UAE." The World Health Organization (WHO) even though has no power to enforce any policies on different countries across the world with regards to swine flu, advises that ministries undergo their own pandemic flu plans. The WHO also recommends that vaccine makers keep making seasonal flu vaccine instead of switching over to a new one that matches the swine flu strain, but it urged them to start the process of picking a pandemic strain, weakening it and making large batches of it, which could take six months.
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