In These New Times

Khaleej Times

3rd October, 2009

ABU DHABI — There is no real threat of a Swine Flu outbreak in the United Arab Emirates, the evidence being that no one has died of the disease since the start of the school year in the country last month, senior government officials said on Friday.

The officials, however, stressed that children and elderly should opt not to perform Haj, due in November, this year as they have been identified as the two most vulnerable groups to the viral infection that has claimed more than 3,000 lives across the world.

The UAE so far has reported hundreds of infections but only six deaths due to the flu also known as H1N1.

Minister of Education Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qattami assured that schools  nationwide were geared up to protect their students against all such communicable diseases. Al Qattami asked parents that they should allow their children to attend schools.

“The situation in schools is extremely safe,” he said at an event organised by the National Media Council here.

The event was also attended by Minister of Health Dr Hanif Hassan, Dr Hamdan Al Mazrouie, Chairman of the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Auqaf, Saed bin Ghaledha, a representative of the National Crisis and Emergency Management Authority, and Hamid bin Demas, Acting Director General of the Ministry of Labour, in addition to a group of officials from different establishments concerned countrywide.

Health Minister Dr Hanif Hasan said the government has ensured that hospitals across the country are equipped to effectively deal with any suspected case. “The Ministry of Health is cooperating with all bodies concerned in line with a comprehensive plan of action,” he said.

He said Dr Hamdan Al Mazrouie called upon the elderly and children not to go on Haj pilgrimage this year. “It is extremely risky that old people and kids go for Haj this year,” he said, adding that Islam allows its followers to take all precautions in performance of religious duties.

Al Mazrouie said the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Auqaf (GAIAA) will organise a workshop in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, as well as Haj and Umrah tour operators, to educate pilgrims about precautions that could protect them against the virus.

He also said that the GAIAA has passed an edict allowing pilgrims to offer prayers and perform Haj by putting a protective mask.

Hamid bin Demas said the Ministry of Labour is currently carrying out a joint plan of action with the Ministry of Health and other bodies concerned under which all companies operating in the country would be requested to form a task force, comprising four members, to take charge of training on how to handle an outbreak in the workplace.

Bin Demas said companies would be instructed to set up an isolation room in each building of a labour accommodation so that workers could avoid catching the virus from infected colleagues.