Swine flu: The story so far
Qatar has seen its first H1N1 virus death and Saudi has recorded four. And despite the rumors, we found no extra detection measures at Dubai airport.
August 2, 2009 2:42 by Aarti Nagraj
Dubai-based daily Gulf News also claimed that expatriates will require medical certificates to prove they are not infected, and that the committee has set up thermal scanners in shopping centers throughout the Emirates. The newspaper cited an unnamed senior health official as a source.
“The news about this issue is completely untrue,” said Ali bin Shuker, director of the Ministry of Health and chairman of the Technical Health Committee for Combating Swine Flu. He said that the authorities are planning to implement a public awareness campaign to deal with the virus.
Last month, the UAE’s official news agency WAM quoted Health Minister Hanif Hassan as saying: “With the start of the busy summer travel season, the health ministry will step up cooperation with the interior ministry to handle the massive rush of passengers at the country’s seaports, airports and at the land border crossings.”
However, Kipp witnessed no extra screening at Dubai airport when we returned from our vacation; there were informative posters about the H1N1 virus, and some of our colleagues noticed heat-cameras (although they weren’t always switched on).
Did you see any extra screening at the airport in Dubai, or anywhere in the region after you returned from your vacation?
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4 Comments
My Parents returned from vacation in Aug there was no checking or screening in Terminal 2, and my friend returned from vacation in July and there was no screening in Terminal 3 for Emirates passengers… Really does Dubai Care or is it too expensive for them to do installed these measures …further they might see money coming in from doctor visits by the Flu victims…I know Abu Dhabi has it but isn’t Dubai the place with most of UAE residents…If they have screening at the mall isn’t it already too late then?????
Tthere are 126 confirmed cases of H1N1 in DXB…. (no one kows about the non reported!!!!!) and
the most chocking fact that one of Dubai’s most famous hospitals has to close a whole section in its premises as the Doctor who was treating flu patients was also infected and he transfered H1N1 to his patients.
Whole world knows that there is no transparency in Arab world as those are the most scared humans, possibly Swine Flu is around the city but its not published or declared yet.
As the Governments has stated: What they don’t know Won’t hurt them The World dos not need to know the %. ..So don’t tell them and keep it quit from the World so the people dont panic. Do you think that the News WAM or any other News and Ministry of Health and chairman of the Technical Health Committee will tell you what is doing on, they are paid by the Governments.
How many people was exposed with H1N1 virus in Meca for prayer and took it back with them to where they live and exposed many. All this is something to think about and for many to wake up!