Checks to ensure novel coronavirus infection is detected early
Abu Dhabi: To ensure that any suspected cases of infection by the novel coronavirus are detected at the earliest, the UAE Ministry of Health (MoH) and other UAE health authorities in the UAE are closely monitoring border entry points with Saudi Arabia, a senior officials at the MoH said on Thursday.
According to a statement by the Saudi Press Agency on Wednesday, the novel coronavirus, or nCoV, has resulted in the death of five more people in Saudi Arabia’s eastern Ahsaa province over the last few days. Two other infected patients are also currently being treated at intensive care units in the country.
The new cases in Saudi Arabia add to the 11 other deaths worldwide among 17 confirmed cases of nCoV infection, as recorded in the latest disease update by the World Health Organisation, dated March 26.
However, because the number of cases has so far been small and easy to monitor, no trade or travel restrictions have yet been implemented in the UAE, Mahmoud Fikri, assistant undersecretary for health policies at the MoH, told Gulf News.
“In the meantime, we have notified hospitals and clinics across the country to immediately report any suspicious cases. The situation is not at the level of an emergency, so there is no need to panic. All the procedures being implemented are just to ensure normal vigilance,” Fikri said.
He added that the MoH is in constant contact with the Saudi Ministry of Health and the WHO.
“We will notify the WHO in case there is any change in disease status in the UAE,” Fikri said.
Trade and travel restrictions have also not been put in place by the WHO, but the watchbody has recommended close monitoring.
The nCoV has worrying international health authorities because it resembles the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) virus, which killed about a tenth of the 8,000 people it infected worldwide in late 2002 and early 2003. It was first noted when the WHO issued an international alert in September 2012, saying a virus previously unknown in humans had infected a Qatari man who had recently been in Saudi Arabia.
Still, not much is yet known about the virus, including its source or how widespread it is. The WHO has found some evidence of human-to-human transmission in some cases, and is also investigating animal sources.
Up until now, the majority of nCoV deaths have occurred in Saudi Arabia. The SPA statement added that the Saudi ministry of health is taking “all precautionary measures for persons who have been in contact with the infected people... and has taken samples from them to examine if they are infected.” However, no figures were released on the number of people who have been examined for the NCoV infection.
A 66-year-old Emirati also succumbed to the virus in March. He passed away in a German hospital, where he had been receiving treatment for cancer. Following this, the Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD)reassured residents that although no cases of nCoV infection had been detected in Abu Dhabi emirate so far, the test for the virus is available at the Shaikh Khalifa Medical City.
Dr Jamal Al Kaabi, director of customer services and corporate communication at the HAAD, also told Gulf News that all Abu Dhabi hospitals had been notified in September 2012 to look out for suspicious cases.
“Additional checks are also being conducted at the Ghweifat border on people and products coming in from Saudi Arabia, However, as the number of cases is under control, no additional emergency measures have yet been implemented,” he added. http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/health/normal-vigilance-at-uae-borders-with-saudi-arabia-to-check-novel-coronavirus-1.1178563
