Olympic fever grips the host city Rio de Janeiro with only a week to go before the opening ceremony next Friday in Brazil. The iconic Copacabana beach will be the starting point for the road cycling race, marathon swimming and triathlon competitions. Felipe Dana / AP Photo
Olympic fever grips the host city Rio de Janeiro with only a week to go before the opening ceremony next Friday in Brazil. The iconic Copacabana beach will be the starting point for the road cycling rShow more

Doctors advise UAE residents travelling for Olympics to take Zika caution



ABU DHABI // Doctors have advised UAE residents travelling to Brazil for the Olympics to take precautions against mosquito-borne viruses such as Zika.

Pregnant women travelling to Rio de Janeiro for the Summer Games should see their gynaecologist before they travel and after their return, said Dr Bindiya Jhamb, specialist obstetrician and gynaecologist at NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City A.

“Any woman who is pregnant or planning a pregnancy should avoid going for the Olympics. If you are going, you need to keep yourself covered and avoid going to a crowded place,” she said.

Dr Jhamb advised using insect repellents and stay in air-conditioned environments if travelling for the event.

Zika virus is transmitted mostly by a type of mosquito in tropical regions such as in Brazil, and is believed to cause microcephaly, a condition of abnormal smallness of the head, and Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare neurological disorder.

Other mosquito-borne viruses causing concern include dengue and chikungunya.

Yellow fever vaccinations and malaria medication may be recommended depending on which locations were visited.

Visitors should follow general food and water precautions to minimise the risk of diarrhoea.

Dr Issam Badaoui, medical director of assistance at International SOS, said travellers have been requesting advice from the medical and travel security services company and should have seen their doctor at least six weeks before departure.

“We have been receiving several calls a day to our assistance centres worldwide from members around the globe, who have been enquiring about precautions ahead of travel to Brazil, as well as advice on whether or not they should travel to the Rio Olympics before they make a final decision,” he said.

“We have been receiving calls about the Zika virus over a couple of months now, but that number has increased ahead of the Rio Olympics.”

Travellers from the UAE might want to keep a copy of key travel safety phrases in Portuguese so they can more easily communicate with Brazilians.

“If travelling to an infected area, people can prevent infection by preventing mosquito bites,” he said.

Travellers should monitor their health for two weeks after returning.

Zika can be spread through sexual contact, doctors said.

Dr Badaoui recommended using an effective insect repellent that contains Deet, Picaridin, PMD or IR3535, and to use “knock-down” insect spray to kill mosquitoes in a room.

International SOS warned that it is flu season in Brazil and the H1N1 virus was undergoing a resurgence.

Vaccinations, including for influenza, should be up to date before travelling.

Ahmed Al Kamali, head of the UAE Athletics Federation and member of the National Olympic Committee, will travel to Brazil for the games and said he believed the team is ready.

“Some sports people are already there. Be careful and take necessary vaccinations.”

arizvi2@thenational.ae

Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode

Directors: Raj & DK

Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon

Rating: 4/5

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
ODI FIXTURE SCHEDULE

First ODI, October 22
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Second ODI, October 25
Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune

Third ODI, October 29
Venue TBC

A%20QUIET%20PLACE
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Sunday's fixtures
  • Bournemouth v Southampton, 5.30pm
  • Manchester City v West Ham United, 8pm
Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion

The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.

Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".

The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.

He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.

"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.

As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.

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Which products are to be taxed?

To be taxed:

Flavoured water, long-life fruit juice concentrates, pre-packaged sweetened coffee drinks fall under the ‘sweetened drink’ category

Not taxed

Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.

Products excluded from the ‘sweetened drink’ category would contain at least 75 per cent milk in a ready-to-drink form or as a milk substitute, baby formula, follow-up formula or baby food, beverages consumed for medicinal use and special dietary needs determined as per GCC Standardisation Organisation rules

India squad for fourth and fifth Tests

Kohli (c), Dhawan, Rahul, Shaw, Pujara, Rahane (vc), Karun, Karthik (wk), Pant (wk), Ashwin, Jadeja, Pandya, Ishant, Shami, Umesh, Bumrah, Thakur, Vihari

Three trading apps to try

Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:

  • For beginners or people who want to start investing with limited capital, Mr Nair suggests eToro. “The low fees and low minimum balance requirements make the platform more accessible,” he says. “The user interface is straightforward to understand and operate, while its social element may help ease beginners into the idea of investing money by looking to a virtual community.”
  • If you’re an experienced investor, and have $10,000 or more to invest, consider Saxo Bank. “Saxo Bank offers a more comprehensive trading platform with advanced features and insight for more experienced users. It offers a more personalised approach to opening and operating an account on their platform,” he says.
  • Finally, StashAway could work for those who want a hands-off approach to their investing. “It removes one of the biggest challenges for novice traders: picking the securities in their portfolio,” Mr Nair says. “A goal-based approach or view towards investing can help motivate residents who may usually shy away from investment platforms.”
'The worst thing you can eat'

Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.

Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines: 

Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.

Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.

Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.

Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.

Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.

Singham Again

Director: Rohit Shetty

Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone

Rating: 3/5

Results

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7.05pm Meydan Classic Listed (TB) $175,000 (Turf) 1,600m, ​​​​​​​Winner Well Of Wisdom, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.

7.40pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 2,000m, ​​​​​​​Winner Star Safari, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby.

8.15pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner Moqarrar, Fabrice Veron, Erwan Charpy.

8.50pm Nad Al Sheba Trophy Group 2 (TB) $300,000 (T) 2,810m, Winner Secret Advisor, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.

9.25pm Curlin Stakes Listed (TB) $175,000 (D) 2,000m, ​​​​​​​Winner Parsimony, William Buick, Doug O’Neill.

10pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 2,000m, Winner Simsir, Ronan Whelan, Michael Halford.

10.35pm Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 1,400m, ​​​​​​​Winner Velorum, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby.