Dubai: The Ministry of Health has advised UAE residents travelling to the regions affected by Zika virus to take precautions against mosquito bites.
Dr Nada Al Marzouqi, Deputy Director of the Preventive Health Department at the Ministry of Health, told Gulf News: “We are following the directives issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and at present it has not advised against travel to these areas. Our main advisory to UAE residents travelling to those regions is to take precautions against mosquito bites, which includes covering the body properly, using long sleeved garments, using mosquito nets on beds and mosquito repellents and so on.”
Dr Al Marzouqi said that people need to be alert and go in for a screening for fever if they are in that region or recently returning from an affected area. “The Zika illness is mild and not transmitted through individuals therefore there is no infectious diseases notification,” she added.
Dr Al Marzouqi also said that the health ministry did not foresee the threat of spread of the Zika virus here.
“The WHO has issued its recommendations to aviation companies to fumigate planes coming from that region to ensure the mosquitoes are not transported here,” she said. “But in the region we do not have a threat from the local strains. The mosquito species in arid regions like ours are very different tropical mosquitoes ... so there is no threat of local transmission of the disease here.”
Emirates offers refunds on flights to Zika-hit destinations
The latest on Zika virus
WHO declares global emergency over Zika virus
She also said the Ministry of Health was vigilant about the outbreak and was in constant touch with WHO officials. “We are getting updates on the recommendations by WHO and if there is any change, such as a ban of travel to these regions, we will advise residents accordingly,” she said.
A health worker fumigates a house at Carabayllo district on the outskirts of Lima, Peru.
A health worker fumigates a house at Carabayllo district on the outskirts of Lima, Peru.
A health worker fumigates a house at Carabayllo district on the outskirts of Lima, Peru.
