Swine flu guidelines being finalised

Dubai: Health centres in the UAE have been asked to detail their needs, such as medicine and equipment, as part of the UAE's response to a potential outbreak of swine flu in the country.

Officials, led by the Ministry of Health, have been meeting daily to finalise guidelines to deal with the H1N1 virus, which has killed 31, mostly in Mexico and made 1,900 people ill in 21 countries.

Requesting anonymity due to speaking without authorisation, an official involved in the task force told Gulf News that health experts had been meeting to discuss an action plan on how to deal with the disease should it arrive in the UAE.

"We're filling out a requisition form for what we need, like gowns, medicines; in case we get a case," the official said, adding they fully expect the guidelines to be finalised on Thursday.

The discussions include making hospitals and medical centres ready for cases, namely isolation and negative-pressure rooms to prevent transmission.

Officials have not decided on the isolation capabilities of ambulances, in the event that they may be required to transfer patients to hospital. The guidelines will also include specific symptoms to look out for.

The UAE, along with other countries, is currently free of the disease although the World Health Organisation fully expects the disease to affect more countries.

Swine flu, in its current state, is not as virulent as originally feared but experts fear the virus will mutate and become worse in autumn.