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UAE connected to global lab network on H5 virus

Dr Khayat said the National Committee on Emergency Response in the UAE had identified the laboratories monitoring the poultry in the UAE. "Because the UAE is part of the World Health Organisation and is coordinating with it, the country has been linked with labs internationally for over a year now," he said.

The UK was the first country in the world to establish a regional laboratory network to monitor the H5 virus.

Dr Khayat said: "The recent outbreak of avian influenza in South East Asia resulted in the culling of over 25 million birds in 2004. Human infection caused by H5N1 influenza virus was first reported in 1997 when this virus infected 18 people in Hong Kong. Since then, more than 100 H5N1 cases have been diagnosed in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia. Of these cases, more than half have died as a result of this lethal strain of the influenza virus."

He said that though the avian flu was yet to be detected in the UAE, surveillance had already started.

"The UAE has a thriving poultry industry. Neighbouring countries such as Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are some of the largest chicken producers and consumers in the world and thousands of birds migrate here for winter every year," he added.

Explaining the need for monitoring, he said: "Dubai is among the world’s largest travel hubs with over 21.7 million passengers passing through every year, hence increasing the risk of infection, in case an pandemic occurs."

"It is, therefore, of utmost importance for various government agencies, hospitals, physicians and scientists to monitor the development of the disease, share the best practices with world experts and create a preparedness plan to combat a potential pandemic," he added.

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