Council seeks answers on H1N1 virus

Abu Dhabi: The Federal National Council (FNC) questioned the precautionary measures taken by the Health Ministry to safeguard the country against possible swine flu infection, pointing out the lack of laboratories for conducting tests.

The House's legislators also questioned the country's stockpile of medicines and quarantine facilities.

The Ministry of Health will introduce more thermal scanners at all entry points to safeguard the country against possible swine flu infection, Minister of Health Dr Hanif Hassan told the House.

"The country has already taken the standard precautions, and are equipped with sufficient staff, ambulances and equipment to handle any passenger with swine flu. We will soon receive 18 thermal scanners that will be fixed at all entry points, be it at sea, airport or land," said Dr Hassan.

Dr Hassan pointed out that airports around the country have been instructed to hand over any passenger suspected of swine flu to the ministry, according to WHO rules.

"We target passengers arriving from North America and Latin America. Only 28 suspected cases were reported, but there was only a single swine flu case in the country, and he was discharged from the hospital after he fully recovered," the minister said.

"Pamphlets will be distributed in aircraft that inform people to seek medical help immediately if they show any symptoms of the H1N1 virus, such as fever, extreme fatigue and cough," he said.

Dr Hassan praised the efforts of the National Supervisory Committee. He said the ministry was stockpiling sufficient medicines. "More than 5 million tamiflu tablets are available."

Dr Hassan added that standard swine flu laboratories will soon be set in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Fujairah. He said the single case was tested in England.