ABU DHABI // Hygiene needs to be improved across the country to prevent the spread of the Mers virus, which was officially detected in the UAE for the first time at the weekend, an expert says.
An 82-year-old Emirati man with pre-existing medical conditions was found to have contracted the novel coronavirus Mers in Abu Dhabi.
"Following the reports of the confirmed case of Mers in the UAE, we urge the public to become more vigilant when it comes to their personal hygiene practices," said Dr Muhammad Halwani, consultant in infection control and epidemiology.
"We know that good hygiene, including hand-washing, good respiratory hygiene and disinfection of commonly touched surfaces, can help prevent the spread of coronaviruses.
"Practising good hygiene is everyone's responsibility and something we can do easily for ourselves."
The advice is particularly relevant during Ramadan, when risk of transmitting of respiratory infections and food contamination increases as family members and friends gather in large groups to break their fast each evening.
The hygiene council has released a set of guidelines to help reduce the risk of infection. It advises people to stick to basic internationally known prevention measures.
The exact cause of Mers has not been established but the World Health Organisation (WHO) has been closely monitoring the situation and issuing regular updates on its spread.
The WHO said there had been 81 laboratory-confirmed cases worldwide, including 45 deaths. The UAE case brought that number to 82.
This month, the WHO stressed the virus was not a concern for public health at the moment, although it is feared the risk could increase during the Haj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia in October.
Many of the confirmed cases of Mers have originated in Saudi.
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Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)
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Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)
The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.
Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)
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Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)
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Three tips from La Perle's performers
1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.
2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.
3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.
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'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
