Dubai: The UAE Ministry of Health on Wednesday stepped in to allay public concerns on Zika virus outbreak and will launch an awareness campaign on the disease, an official said.
Dr Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Under Secretary for health centres and clinics at the Ministry of Health told Gulf News that the ministry will launch a campaign to educate the public.
A higher committee for disease control comprising all the health authorities of the UAE and the National Committee for Disaster and Emergencies met in Abu Dhabi recently to discuss the issue.
Dr Al Rand said: “We want to first allay the panic people have about the Zika Virus infection and tell them that the Aedes specie of mosquito that causes the infection is not present in our region."
High alert
"That is why there is no reason for them to fear," he said, adding: "We also wanted to assure the public that so far not a single case of this affliction has been reported in anyone returning from the affected countries. The municipalities of all emirates are on high alert for mosquito control and all we can advise people is to avoid mosquito bites by taking basic precautions.”
Dr Al Rand also assured that in case there was a single such case reported, the Zabeel Central Laboratory was equipped to conduct analysis and diagnose the disease.
“The Central Laboratory has all the diagnostic tools. So far there has been not a single case, if at all someone tested positive, treatment for the condition would be at best, symptomatic,” he said.
- The infection can be passed on through a mosquito biting an infected person and then biting a healthy person.
- Only one in five infected people is likely to fall ill and the disease is not usually considered fatal.
- The gestation period for the virus is not known.
- There is no available treatment to combat the disease so far. One needs to watch out for symptoms and use fever reducing tablets.
- Fever, skin rash, joint pain, conjunctivitis, muscle pain and headache.
- Take adequate rest and stay hydrated.
- Take fever-reducing medicines, but avoid aspirins or steroids.
- Patients who suspect infection after returning from travel should contact their health-care provider and undergo proper diagnosis.
