DUBAI UAE residents travelling to swine flu hotspots in India should take all precautions, including flu vaccines, to stay protected against the infectious disease, doctors have said.
Their advice comes in the wake of a massive outbreak of swine flu in India which has left over 700 people, including a visiting Dubai resident, dead and 11,000 others affected. The states of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh are the worst hit, with cases being reported from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi as well.
A 33-year-old Indian resident of Dubai died at a private hospital in Karnataka on February 9. Indian media reported that the man, on a visit since January 29, developed unexplained fever and succumbed to H1N1.
Health alerts
Although the UAE is free from swine flu and the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Ministry of Health have not issued any health alerts this season, the high frequency of air travel between India and the UAE and the quick transmission of the disease from people to people have led to uneasy questions among flu patients anxious to be safe than sorry.
Doctors at private clinics and hospitals said such worries are legitimate and the key to managing swine flu cases is prevention and early diagnosis.
Dr Suresh Menon, Medical Director of Lifeline Hospital, Jebel Ali, said: “Any epidemic is a source of concern, especially if it is after a gap of four years. Dubai has a substantial population of Indian expats, so it is important to educate people.”
Dr Lalit Uchit, Specialist, Internal Medicine at Mediclinic Mirdif, said that the World Bank has not recommended any quarantine of swine flu patients this year. He said: “Residents, especially children, those above 65 years, chronic respiratory patients, smokers, diabetics and other immuno-compromised patients should go in for the seasonal flu vaccine which provides considerable protection against H1N1. This is available in all clinics and is nominally priced (under Dh100).”
Doctors said the symptoms of swine flu are the same as those of a common cold - fever, chills, running nose, itchy throat and body pain.
But as the infection worsens, the symptoms could worsen to include breathlessness, dehydration and other complications.
“If the initial symptoms don’t get better in two days, you should see a doctor,” said Dr Uchit.
Dr Mohammed Zaheeruddin, Specialist Prediatrician at Unicare Medical Centre in Bur Dubai, said: “It is important to see the doctor in time. We get a lot of flu cases among children. Depending on the history and other circumstances, we initially conduct a rapid influenza (swab) test to rule out swine flu. If the result is positive, a PCR test is also necessary for confirmation.”
Dr Sathya Gangatharan, GP, Aster Medical Center in Al Qusais, said the treatment of swine flu entails administration of the anti-viral drug Tamiflu. “As a preventive step, we advise people to take the seasonal flu shot as it can give some protection, especially if they are travelling to infected areas,” she said.
With the flu quick to spread between people, doctors advised simple preventive steps like frequent hand washing with soap and water, twice a day gargle with salt water, covering of the nose and moth while sneezing or coughing and avoiding close contact with flu patients.
