Haad says Mers not a public health concern

Residents have been asked to avoid rumours on the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (Mers-CoV) and go about their normal routine.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Health Authority Abu Dhabi (Haad) has asked the public to refer to official and reliable sources for information on the illness.

How to contain the spread > Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds > Help young children do the same. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitiser. > Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and make sure the tissue is disposed in the trash > Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. > Avoid close contact,such as kissing, sharing cups, or sharing eating utensils, with people with fever or flu-like illnesses > Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs. > Wear masks inmass gatherings > Increase immunity by eating a balanced diet, exercise, avoid stress > Avoid close contact with animals. Tips by Haad and iCare Clinics

Two years on and the virus has claimed over 220 lives worldwide with Saudi Arabia reporting another death on Sunday. On April 8, the main public hospital in Jeddah closed its emergency room after rise in Mers cases among medical staff.

Yemen also reported its first case on Sunday, confirming suspicions that the virus was spreading.

Reports of the hospital closure in Saudi Arabia resounded in the UAE after the public was reportedly said to be avoiding hospitals for fear of contracting the 
disease.

Haad reassured that the current situation is not a public health concern.

In the UAE, a Filipino medic died On Friday after contracting the disease while five others medical professionals – all Filipinos – working for the Ministry of Interior were also infected and put in isolation.

Haad said it was coordinating with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and other authorities in the country to take all necessary measures as per international standards and recommendations from the World Health Organisation (WHO). It reassured that it was screening all contacts of affected individuals.

The health ministry said that the WHO confirmed the current situation does not require a travel ban to any country in the world, screenings at different ports, or any restrictions on trade.

It also reassured everyone that globally, detected cases continue to be very low compared to other types of flu-like illness. It confirmed that it is monitoring the situation closely to ensure the health and safety of the people.

Doctors call for calm

Doctors in the UAE have called for calm and said there was no need to panic. Proper hygiene can ward of all infectious diseases including Mers, they said.

What is Mers? Mers is viral respiratory illness first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012. It is caused by a coronavirus called Mers-CoV. It is said to have its origins in bats which then spread to camels and later spread to humans. Symptoms > High fever (102F or 38.1C) > Cough > Shortness of breath > Runny, stuffy nose > Watery eyes > Infection of the upper respiratory tract (throat) Infection of the lower respiratory tract (lungs) Who is at risk? > The elderly > Pregnant women > Those with underlying chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease.

“We don’t need to be afraid of the virus … everyone has the capacity to fight off infections because we all have strong immune systems,” said Dr Atul Aundhekar, Chief Medical Director and General Practitioner at iCare Clinics.

“Mers is virulent but severely affects only those people with immunocompromised states such as the elderly, pregnant women, people with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes...” said the doctor.

An infection control expert said the UAE authorities were doing active surveillance to ensure Mers does not become a cause of concern.

“Despite the numbers of those infected recently was high, Mers is still not a cause for concern,” said Dr Ashraf El Houfi, Head of the UAE’s Infection Control Committee that monitors and reports infectious diseases in the country.

“It is just flu ... mild for some and severe for others,” he said.

“The virus has a five-day shedding period during which the patient should be isolated. However, a suspected case is tested on the third and fifth day after which no isolation is required,” added El Houfi.

The doctor said that the severity of the cases depends on the underlying medical conditions of any patient.

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com