Ru'ya Careers UAE 2024 will be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre, Z6-4 platform, from September 24 to 26
Dr Hussain Abdel Rahman, Mazen Altaruti and Sufian Farah speaking at a seminar on sandstorms in Dubai on Wednesday. — KT photos by Shihab
Experts said on Wednesday that living organisms such as bacteria and virus could fly across countries through sandstorms and cause severe allergies. They said it was imperative that residents take the right precautions against the raging sandstorms that hit the country at least eight to 10 times a year.
Aside from bringing the country to a halt, sandstorms significantly increase the number of hospital visits and pose a heavy burden on the country’s healthcare. In addition to being a major safety issue of increased car accidents with sandstorms reducing the visibility to almost zero, these storms are a major cause of allergic rhinitis — irritation and inflammation of the mucous membrane inside the nose.
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In the UAE, at least 10 per cent of the population suffers from allergic rhinitis while 30 per cent are affected in Al Ain alone, according to studies.
“Sandstorms are a major cause of bacterial and viral infection particular amongst those with weaker immune systems such as the elderly and children,” said Director of Medical Affairs and Head of the ENT Department at Dubai Hospital Dr Hussain Abdel Rahman.
An awareness campaign organised by healthcare firm MSD will run in the UAE during the coming months when UAE’s ‘sandstorm season’ is expected to start from April to September.
“Sandstorms can last for several hours or sometimes even the whole day, bringing traffic to a standstill, forcing places of work and schools to close and significantly increase the number of hospitalisations,” said managing director of MSD Gulf Mazen Altaruti.
A brewing sandstorm could kick up allergic winds during the weekend, warned weathermen, urging residents to take the necessary precautions.
While light rain is also expected on Saturday, Sufian Farah, Weather Forecasting Specialist for the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS), said that visibility will be reduced to less than 500 metres.
“A study conducted by the NCMS found that organic material from the Indian subcontinent was brought to the UAE through sandstorms during monsoons while sulphate flew in from Saudi Arabia’s Empty Quarter,” he explained.
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