UAE | Health
Bird flu scare tests levels of readiness
UAE's bird flu emergency response plan went into high gear on Thursday as an Indonesian housemaid got sick after handling dead birds in her employer's yard.
- By Nina Muslim, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:37 May 3, 2009
- Image Credit:
- "We kept the patient isolated and all medical staff attending to her wore special masks." - Dr G.Y. Naroo, Specialist senior registrar, Dohms
Dubai: UAE's bird flu emergency response plan went into high gear on Thursday as an Indonesian housemaid got sick after handling dead birds in her employer's yard.
The 31 year-old maid was rushed to the Rashid Hospital Trauma Centre and kept under observation in isolation.
The test results showed she had the common pneumonia.
The head of the infectious disease unit described it as "bad timing".
Dr Abdullah Ustadi, the chief, said: "It was a coincidence," that the maid had bird flu symptoms at the same time they found dead pigeons around the house. The dead birds also tested negative after checks by the municipality, he said.
The UAE is on high alert for avian flu after Kuwait reported 41 cases of bird flu in turkeys, falcons, chickens and other birds since February 25. No human infection has been reported in the country.
Dr G.Y. Naroo, specialist senior registrar in charge of emergency department at the centre, said all precautions were taken as listed under the bird flu emergency response plan.
"We kept her isolated and all medical staff attending to her wore special masks and gloves, while we ran tests. Test results showed that it was pneumonia," he said.
He said she was later taken to Maktoum Hospital, where she is recovering.
Health officials said the case showed the readiness to deal with the disease, which has killed 167 people since 2003 according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Dr Ali Al Marzouqi, director of public health for Dohms, told Gulf News: "We're taking all the precautions to prevent an outbreak."
Emergency hotlines
Dr Ustadi also assured the public that authorities were transparent and would inform them about any issue affecting their health, and asked the public not to spread rumours. "We will not hide anything. If something happens, we have to report to WHO."
The municipality officers asked the public to call 8009990, 04-2232323 and 04-2891114 if they found any dead or sick birds.
Latest news
- Sharjah boy tops Indian board's class 12 exams
- Dubai number plates auction raises Dh27m
- Youngsters dance and raise cash for charity
- Dubai departments upgrade services
- Get yourself a free test for diabetes
- Ensuring a safety net for intellectual property
- Reader's issue addressed
- 5,552 illegals held in Dubai this year
- Man cleared because he took drugs in France
- Man charged with trafficking women
- Auditors to probe Mizin graft case
- Breaking down cultural barriers with photographs
- Abu Dhabi Crown Prince visits Islamic centre
- Smart e-Gate system launched
- Cyber infidelity creeping out of virtual domain
Community Reports
-
Mirror, mirror show me the way
Driver on Salam Street had so many boxes and fruits piled into car, he would not be able to view rear or right side mirrors
-
Parents should be more vigilant
Reader's picture highlights risk of negligence by caretakers
-
Warming up to ‘Mobilise the Earth' theme
Dubai school dedicates a whole week to celebrating Earth Day with can-collection drives, sapling plantation and painting competition among others
-
Drivers using mobiles put others' lives at risk
Speeding is dangerous for the driver and other motorists
