REGIONAL efforts are being stepped up to combat a deadly respiratory virus that has found its way into a neighbouring country.
The first case of the SARS-like coronavirus was discovered in the UAE yesterday, after several patients from one family were diagnosed upon arrival from the city of Wuhan, China.
Wuhan is considered to be the epicentre of the deadly virus, which has so far claimed the lives of more than 130 people and infected almost 6,000.
An emergency meeting of the GCC Health Council’s communicable diseases committee was held yesterday morning in Riyadh, with Bahrain’s delegation consisting of Salmaniya Medical Complex infectious disease consultant Dr Jameela Al Salman and public health consultant and epidemiologist Dr Adel Al Sayyad, who is also the head of the Disease Control Department.
Situation
The meeting, chaired by the Bahraini delegation, included a detailed analysis of the current situation as well as the protocols put in place for screening passengers arriving from China.
“The actual need to prevent travel to such areas was also addressed,” said the Health Ministry in a statement.
“Along with the treatment protocol that should be applied when discovering a case in the GCC and the regulations and measures that must be undertaken.”
The ministry added that Bahrain has activated its monitoring protocols and strengthened preventative measures at all points of entry, while monitoring international developments and preparing health guidelines to deal with suspected cases in line with WHO regulations.
The emergency meeting was held upon the request of Bahrain’s Health Minister Faeqa Al Saleh as part of efforts to co-ordinate Gulf-wide co-operation and exchange of expertise in the field of infection control and precautionary and preventative measures.
As part of the intensified precautionary efforts, the ministry also took measures to eliminate any risk of contamination at the country’s most popular shopping festival, the Autumn Fair.
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Organisers of the fair, which will end on Friday, said that medical professionals have been screening participants to prevent any outbreak.
“In a medical facility temporarily set up at the Autumn Fair, the Health Ministry has screened all participants as a preventative procedure,” said a statement issued yesterday.
“The Health Ministry has officially confirmed through their social media channels that no symptoms of the coronavirus were detected in any of the individuals, neither at the event, nor in the country.
“The organisers of the Autumn Fair, Informa Markets, are thankful for the precautionary steps and prompt action taken by the national authorities.”
The nine-day shopping extravaganza features over 650 exhibitors from 16 countries.
Meanwhile, Health Ministry Under-Secretary Dr Waleed Al Manea yesterday stressed that Bahrain has not registered any case of coronavirus.
Registered
“The arrival of the virus is normal for us, as we are a country that is open to the world, but that isn’t a reason for concern as the ministry is fully prepared to deal with all scenarios,” he said to members of the Press on the sidelines of yesterday’s Sixth Gulf Forum for Strategic Planning.
His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, also directed on Tuesday the swift provision of screening devices to detect coronavirus.
The GDN reported yesterday that hundreds of Bahraini students, who study in China, have made arrangements for the return home, with some relaying details of the chilling journey as they remained confined in their apartments with dwindling food supplies prior to coming back to Bahrain.
reem@gdn.com.bh
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