UAE | Health

Emirati students face swine flu quarantine

Emirati students may be quarantined before they return home for the summer as part of anti-swine flu measures.

  • By Abdullah Rasheed, Abu Dhabi Editor, and Sunil K. Vaidya, Muscat Bureau Chief
  • Published: 23:06 June 17, 2009
  • Gulf News

  • Image Credit: Gulf News Archive
  • Hanif Hassan, the United Arab Emirates Minister of Health, and Dr Ali Shakar, Director General of Ministry of Health at the Sharjah International Airport.
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Abu Dhabi/Muscat: Emirati students could be quarantined abroad before they return home for the summer holidays as part of a plan to combat swine flu in the UAE.

Read in-depth report on swine flu

New procedures are being implemented by the UAE authorities. Medical teams will be sent to UAE embassies in affected countries such as the US and Australia to screen students using thermal scanners.

The move comes after an increasing number of GCC students abroad were diagnosed with swine flu.

Humaid Al Qutami, Minister of Education, told Gulf News students suspected of carrying the H1N1 virus will be quarantined.

"This will reassure everyone and prevent panic until all students studying abroad have been checked, especially those coming from the US, Australia, Canada and Europe, where the majority of UAE students are," Al Qutami said.

There are 600 Emirati students studying abroad under the supervision of the Ministry of Higher Education, and four times the number of students studying on scholarships from other parties, such as government and semi-government authorities, banks, rulers' courts and private companies.

Dr Hanif Hassan, Minister of Health, told Gulf News the ministry is coordinating with the National Committee for Combating Swine flu.

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"We will ask embassies to provide the committee with records about UAE students and tell us about suspected cases ... in order to isolate them and treat them before coming back to the UAE.

"We will contact their families and let them know all the details about these preventive procedures," Hassan said.

Neighbouring Oman has declared three cases of H1N1. "Three Omani students returned to Muscat last Saturday after a year-long course at a US University and all three have been found to be carrying the H1N1 virus," a spokesperson at the Ministry of Health told Gulf News.

Your comments


I've been studying in the UK for the last two years or so. Luckily, my studies have included all this natural hazards and pandemics. Also the study has focused on the risk assessment for these hazards. What we found out that the impacts of these hazards and pandemics are highly relying on people's perception more than the actual consequence of the risks themselves. In fact people experience and media plays a crucial role in determining how those hazards are confronted. Therefore I totally agree with UAE's authorities counter-measures but they should publicise it in an appropriate way.
Salem Al Dahmani
Swindon,UK
Posted: June 18, 2009, 15:28

i think it is a good procedure to prevent Swine Flu to be spread in UAE
Fadwa Amore
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: June 18, 2009, 13:24

i completely agree with this process, because we dont want people who are living in my country to catch this sickness in addition, this process should be for all travelers not only the students.
Adnan Al Amiri
Brisbane,Australia
Posted: June 18, 2009, 08:37

I am an Emirati student studying in Florida. I totally agree and would recommend those measures and looking forward for it. The media has made the swine flu a bigger case than what it is honestly from what I can see and hear but neverthless, caution has to be taken since its a new virus and no vaccine has yet been established. I really wouldn't want to spread this disease in my home country and have another fellow citizen or resident of UAE catch this disease. I ask God to keep this disease away from my family, my friends and my dear country.
Ahmad Fareed Al Darwish
Florida,US
Posted: June 18, 2009, 08:09

I think this measure is unnecessary, due to the fact that students studying abroad can be screened upon their return. It is also inconvenient for students that do not live in the same city as the consulate; in our case, we live in Montreal and the consulate is in Ottawa.
Nabeel Ali
Montreal,Canada
Posted: June 18, 2009, 05:22

OK, a company released some drugs that was effective on this specific virus right? Did anyone see Mission Impossible 2? Some scientist maybe working for such company (making profits)
Lama
Sharjah,AE
Posted: June 18, 2009, 05:05

I heard of many cases here in Arizona ,but that did not stop me from taking summer classes! also,am taking precautions to avoid being infected! i tried to wash my hands every time i use public restrooms, i have been avoiding going to crowded places like malls! Since am busy with the summer classes, i try my best to be updated with the News! i hope all UAE Students are safe!
Hamed Al Mazrouei
Tucson,USA
Posted: June 18, 2009, 05:02

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