Dubai - No cases of the virus have been detected in the UAE so far and there in no risk for local transmission, said a senior official from the ministry.
Published: Tue 2 Feb 2016, 1:06 PM
Last updated: Tue 2 Feb 2016, 4:53 PM
The UAE health ministry has urged people to take proper precautions before travelling to areas where Zika virus is spreading, currently South America and the Caribbean.
No cases of the virus have been detected in the UAE so far and there in no risk for local transmission, said a senior official from the ministry. Dr Hussein Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Undersecretary for Health Centres and Clinics said that the virus - that is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito - is not known to the UAE and cannot thrive here.
Also read: WHO declares global emergency over Zika virus spread
Key facts> Zika virus disease is caused by a virus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes that also causes dengue fever and is found in tropical regions.
> People with Zika virus disease usually have a mild fever, skin rash (exanthema) and conjunctivitis. These symptoms normally last for 2-7 days.
>There is no specific treatment or vaccine currently available * The best form of prevention is protection against mosquito bites.
>The virus is known to circulate in Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific.
- WHO
|
"The disease usually is a mild one and there is no specific treatment or vaccination. So far, no cases has been detected in the UAE," he told Khaleej Times.
However, an expert on infectious diseases working in a government hospital on the condition of anonymity said that the UAE did not having testing kits for the virus as of yet.
"Even if someone is infected, it is not likely that we will know since we do not have the facilities to diagnose it. We are waiting for kits from the World Health Organisation (WHO)."
The source, however, also said that there was no reason to panic. "The virus is like any other influenza virus and has been linked to pregnant women who later gave birth to babies with brain damage." Dr Rand said that currently the main action required from the ministry was to increase awareness of people travelling to areas where Zika virus is present.
"It is most important that they know how to protect themselves from mosquito bites."
"This can be done through using insect repellents; wearing clothes (preferably light-coloured) that cover as much of the body as possible; using physical barriers such as screens, closed doors and windows; and sleeping under mosquito nets," he added.
The US Centre for Disease Control (CDC) has warned pregnant women and asked them not to travel to at least 14 countries including Brazil and Puerto Rico, where the Zika virus is spreading.
There is strong evidence of a link between the Zika virus and a birth defect called microcephaly in which babies are born with undersized brains and skulls.
Brazil's health ministry has reported at least 3,530 cases of suspected Zika-related microcephaly since October 2015 and Hawaii has reported one case.
asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com
iPhone | iPad
Android
Huawei
