• Home

40% Suspected H1N1 Cases at Special Clinic Test Positive

DUBAI - The special 24-hour H1N1 clinic opened at Rashid Hospital two months ago has recently recorded a sudden surge in the number of infected cases.

Forty per cent of the patients tested at the clinic since its opening have tested positive, according to health officials. However, allaying fears about the spread of the Influenza-A virus, they added that a majority of them have recovered after receiving the treatment.

Decision to set up the clinic at the Emergency and Trauma Centre here was taken after the hospital began receiving a large number of suspected cases daily, requesting to be tested. The hospital attributes the recent increase in number of cases to changes in weather. Other government hospitals – Dubai and Al Wasl Hospital – have also reported a similar increase in the number of patients visiting the emergency department but no specialized clinics have been set up.

“Every single day we receive several patients with flu-like symptoms requesting to be tested,” said an official from the clinic requesting anonymity. “This was the reason why we decided to set up the clinic where the doctors will assess and decide if the person requires to be tested or admitted,” he added.

“People also come to the emergency department because they know that they will be offered free testing, medication and admission,” he added. However, this decision can only be taken after the doctor examines a patient thoroughly.

“The doctor will then advise home isolation or hospital admission for patients depending on their conditions. The decision to give antiviral drug will also be taken by the treating doctor based on clinical judgement,” explained the official.

To curb the spread of the disease within hospitals, all government hospitals and primary healthcare centres have recently adopted a triage system for suspected cases, wherein the response to a particular emergency situation is decided in consideration of its severity. The clinic too follows latest guidelines on H1N1 symptoms and trea- tment.

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.ae