MANAMA // Swine flu, which since April has gripped the world but had seemed to avoid the Gulf, has arrived with a bang, with 62 cases confirmed so far across the region sparking a flurry of official and non-governmental activity to try to stem the outbreak
From governments earmarking funds to combat the disease and prepare for an expected sharp increase in cases over the summer, to the illegal sale of under-the-counter medication by those looking to profit from the panic, fear of the pandemic has quickly become part of daily life throughout the Gulf.
Out of the 62 cases confirmed so far, Kuwait has reported 22 - 18 of whom were US soldiers - Saudi Arabia has 17, Bahrain 15, Qatar three and two in the UAE.
Oman's health ministry yesterday reported its first cases of swine flu after three were diagnosed with the disease.
While figures from the Gulf pale in comparison with the 36,600 confirmed cases and 167 deaths in 80 countries worldwide, regional officials say it is important to remain vigilant here.
"These upcoming few months could be the most critical and dangerous for us and we need to focus most of our efforts on it," Dr Khairya Moosa, the public health director at Bahrain's ministry of health, said in an interview.
"We have students returning from studies abroad, we also have a lot of people travelling for the summer holidays in July and August - many of whom will travel to infected countries - and in September schools will reopen".
Dr Moosa's concerns regarding returning students are not without basis as eight out of the 14 cases currently being treated in Bahrain - the other individual who contracted the disease had made a full recovery - are of students who returned this week from the United States.
Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have reported cases of swine flu among returning students from abroad and the three cases reported in Oman yesterday were all students returning from the United States.
"What we recommend to the public is that if there is no need to travel to the affected country those travel plans should be postponed at this stage, but if they have to travel then they should take precautionary measures by sticking to personal hygiene requirements, staying away from crowded places, and seeking medical care as soon as they display symptoms of illness," Dr Moosa said.
She said long-term preparations to deal with swine flu are being made at a national level after the World Health Organisation issued a report saying it expected the pandemic to last between one and a half to two years.
Last week, the WHO raised the worldwide pandemic alert to Phase 6 - its highest level - but said it considered the overall severity of the influenza pandemic to be moderate, based on the fact that most people recover without the need to be treated in hospital or receive medical care and that national rates of swine flu infection appear similar to levels seen during local, seasonal influenza periods.
The decision reflects the increasing speed with which the disease is spreading rather than its severity.
Still, as the number of infections and deaths recorded a sharp increase in recent weeks, some accused the WHO and a number of local governments of not taking enough steps to prevent the spread of the disease after it was first discovered in Mexico.
Of particular concern to Gulf countries is the potential for the disease to spread at the Haj in Mecca in November.
According to Dr Moosa, Bahrain and the other Gulf countries are in talks with Saudi health officials to draw up a plan to prevent and deal with the spread of swine flu during the pilgrimage, which will be observed between Nov 25 and 28.
She said: "The details of the Gulf states unified plan to combat swine flu is being worked out now among Gulf health experts via the Gulf Co-operation Council [GCC] ? and we - the Gulf states, including Bahrain - will be following the guidelines that will be set by the Saudi health authorities."
Dr Moosa added that GCC health officials still have not received details of the required vaccinations to be given or steps to be taken as part of the plan.
Sources said the plan should be available in its final version by July, after Saudi Arabia hosts a workshop on swine flu this month for experts from the WHO, the US Centers for Disease Control and others to obtain their recommendations.
Fears of the spread of swine flu have pushed Gulf governments in recent weeks to allocate millions of dollars in funds to their health services to provide for vaccinations and upgrade their airport health facilities to detect and deal with the outbreak.
Some, however, have moved to cash in on the fears of the public.
Reports of under-the-counter sales of swine flu medication at inflated prices forced Bahrain's health officials to issue a warning to pharmacies and the public not to purchase medication without a doctor's consultation.
"Enough medication to deal with the possible outbreak of swine flu had been purchased and provided to public and private medical care providers," Dr Moosa said.
"So there is no need for the public to go out and buy these antibiotic medications because they run the risk of having these medications be ineffective at a later stage if they ever contract the virus, as they develop an immunity to it."
The WHO has advised health services across the globe to keep a stock of medication adequate for 30 per cent of their adult population and 25 per cent of their young in case of emergency y.
According to the latest figures released by the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the sharpest rise of reported swine flu infections in the EU occurred in the past two weeks while the highest concentration of reported cases remains in North America, encompassing the US, Canada, and Mexico.
In the Middle East, Israel has the highest concentration of swine flu cases, having recorded 131 so far, 14 of which were reported in the past two days, followed by Egypt, which has so far reported 26 cases.
Jordan and Yemen also reported their first cases of swine flu in recent days.
mmahdi@thenational.ae
The%20specs
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Bugatti Chiron Super Sport - the specs:
Engine: 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16
Transmission: 7-speed DSG auto
Power: 1,600hp
Torque: 1,600Nm
0-100kph in 2.4seconds
0-200kph in 5.8 seconds
0-300kph in 12.1 seconds
Top speed: 440kph
Price: Dh13,200,000
Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport - the specs:
Engine: 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16
Transmission: 7-speed DSG auto
Power: 1,500hp
Torque: 1,600Nm
0-100kph in 2.3 seconds
0-200kph in 5.5 seconds
0-300kph in 11.8 seconds
Top speed: 350kph
Price: Dh13,600,000
Itcan profile
Founders: Mansour Althani and Abdullah Althani
Based: Business Bay, with offices in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and India
Sector: Technology, digital marketing and e-commerce
Size: 70 employees
Revenue: On track to make Dh100 million in revenue this year since its 2015 launch
Funding: Self-funded to date
If you go
The flights
There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.
The trip
Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.
The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
Size: Five employees
Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)
Indian construction workers stranded in Ajman with unpaid dues
Naga
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Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
Paris Can Wait
Dir: Eleanor Coppola
Starring: Alec Baldwin, Diane Lane, Arnaud Viard
Two stars
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Law%2041.9.4%20of%20men%E2%80%99s%20T20I%20playing%20conditions
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
Terminator: Dark Fate
Director: Tim Miller
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Mackenzie Davis
Rating: 3/5
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
The specs
Engine: 2.5-litre, turbocharged 5-cylinder
Transmission: seven-speed auto
Power: 400hp
Torque: 500Nm
Price: Dh300,000 (estimate)
On sale: 2022
UAE%20v%20West%20Indies
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MO
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Veere di Wedding
Dir: Shashanka Ghosh
Starring: Kareena Kapoo-Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania
Verdict: 4 Stars
If you go
The flights
Etihad flies direct from Abu Dhabi to San Francisco from Dh5,760 return including taxes.
The car
Etihad Guest members get a 10 per cent worldwide discount when booking with Hertz, as well as earning miles on their rentals. A week's car hire costs from Dh1,500 including taxes.
The hotels
Along the route, Motel 6 (www.motel6.com) offers good value and comfort, with rooms from $55 (Dh202) per night including taxes. In Portland, the Jupiter Hotel (https://jupiterhotel.com/) has rooms from $165 (Dh606) per night including taxes. The Society Hotel https://thesocietyhotel.com/ has rooms from $130 (Dh478) per night including taxes.
More info
To keep up with constant developments in Portland, visit www.travelportland.com. Good guidebooks include the Lonely Planet guides to Northern California and Washington, Oregon & the Pacific Northwest.
Winners
Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski
Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea
Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona
Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)
Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)
Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)
Best National Team of the Year: Italy
Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello
Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)
Player Career Award: Ronaldinho
Specs
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The%20specs
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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match info
Athletic Bilbao 1 (Muniain 37')
Atletico Madrid 1 (Costa 39')
Man of the match Iker Muniain (Athletic Bilbao)
Pad Man
Dir: R Balki
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte
Three-and-a-half stars
The%20new%20Turing%20Test
%3Cp%3EThe%20Coffee%20Test%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3EA%20machine%20is%20required%20to%20enter%20an%20average%20American%20home%20and%20figure%20out%20how%20to%20make%20coffee%3A%20find%20the%20coffee%20machine%2C%20find%20the%20coffee%2C%20add%20water%2C%20find%20a%20mug%20and%20brew%20the%20coffee%20by%20pushing%20the%20proper%20buttons.%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EProposed%20by%20Steve%20Wozniak%2C%20Apple%20co-founder%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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A%20Little%20to%20the%20Left
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Barcelona 3
Messi (27’, 32’, 87’)
Leganes 1
El Zhar (68’)
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5