Health warnings accompany dust storms in UAE

Roads yesterday had poor visibility, which police say caused the death of a motorcyclist in RAK. Antonie Robertson / The National

ABU DHABI // Cases of asthma and other respiratory illnesses have increased by up to 25 per cent amid sand and dust storms that are forecast to continue for at least another day.

“Definitely we have got more patients in the past couple of days,” said Dr Pierre Majdalani, a child asthma and allergy specialist at Dr Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Centre, Dubai.

“I have noticed that many children have asthma attacks during severe sand storms.

“The particles and viruses in the dust trigger respiratory illnesses.

“There are more asthma attacks in general and I’d say the number of patients coming to us has increased by 20 per cent at least, due to the dust storm.”

Dr Majdalani said the dusty air could also trigger ear infections, cough, asthma, cold, viral infection, ear infection and influenza.

“There are many problems that arise even after the event, say a week later. The particles induce inflammation,” he said.

The dust storms also pose a major threat on the roads, police say.

An Emirati, 19, died on Saturday night when his motorcycle collided with a car in Al Zeit, Ras Al Khaimah.

Col Ali Al Alekum, director of traffic and patrols at RAK Police, said a car swerved suddenly and hit the motorcycle head-on.

High winds and low visibility caused by sand and dust in the air led to the crash, Col Al Alekum said.

The motorcyclist suffered severe head injuries and died before arriving at hospital.

Dr Abdel Naser Kamel, a consultant in internal and pulmonary medicine at Al Noor Hospital in Abu Dhabi, warned that residents who were especially vulnerable should take extra precautions.

Dr Kamel said infants, the elderly and those with cardiac problems should avoid “unnecessary exposure to the sandstorms and dust, and use nose-mouth masks”.

“There has been approximately a 25 per cent increase in the number of patients who suffered asthma-related problems daily since the sandstorms began,” he said.

“These have been complaints from people of all ages. Fortunately there have not been any severe cases.”

Residents who experience coughing, wheezing or breathlessness should see a doctor immediately.

The National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology said the clouds and rain would continue until Monday morning, especially over the northern parts of the UAE.

“The clouds will decrease gradually afterwards so the weather will be partly cloudy and cloudy at times in the northern and eastern part of UAE, but in the afternoon the wind will be stronger, especially over the sea,” a forecaster at the bureau said.

Falling temperatures were caused by a cold air mass coming from the north, he said.

On Sunday, temperatures reached a maximum of 26.8°C in the south-east of the country, with a low of 5.1°C at Jabal Jais.

North-westerly winds will continue to blow dust in open areas in the desert but not the coast, the spokesman said.

“When there is rain, there is no sandstorm because water prevents it,” he said.