SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: H1N1 FLU CASES IN UAE

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT: SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: H1N1 FLU CASES IN UAE


1. Summary: UAE Arabic and English newspapers straightforwardly
reported on H1N1 flu cases in the UAE involving individuals coming
to the UAE from abroad, in particular students coming from the U.S.
The general tone assured that the health authorities were able to
contain these cases, mitigating any threat by implementing global
standards, and quarantining UAE students coming from the U.S. who
are suspected to have the H1N1 flu. The UAE chief editor of
Dubai-based Arabic tabloid daily "Emarat Al-Youm" rejected the
"exaggerated" global response to the H1N1 flu, reasoning that it is
curable and not fatal. End summary.


2. Headlines:


-- Dubai-based English daily "Gulf News" (circulation 95,000),
front-page headline on 06/18: "Students told to get in touch with
UAE authorities over swine flu fears"

-- Abu Dhabi-based English daily "The National" (circulation
60,000),headline on 06/19: "Two new swine flu cases in UAE [from
the U.S.]"

-- Abu Dhabi-based Arabic semi-official daily "Al-Ittihad"
(circulation 65,000),headline on 06/19: "High Commission to meet on
Sunday to discuss swine flu; Distribution of 50,000 swine flu
awareness releases in Dubai"

-- Abu Dhabi-based Arabic semi-official daily "Al-Ittihad"
(circulation 65,000),headline on 06/20: "UAE citizens returning
home inflicted with swine flu; Swine flu vaccines to reach UAE by
end of September"

-- Dubai-based English daily "Gulf News" (circulation 95,000),
front-page headline on 06/20: "Fifth swine flu case in UAE: Expat
tests positive"

-- Dubai-based English daily Khaleej Times (circulation 60,000),
front-page headline on 06/20: "UAE Citizens in U.S. Safe from Swine
Flu, Says UAE Embassy"



3. Abu Dhabi-based English daily "The National" (circulation
60,000),headline on 06/19: "Two new swine flu cases in UAE [from
the U.S.]"

"Two new cases of swine flu were confirmed in the UAE yesterday,
bringing the total to four. The two infected people, both Emiratis,
had returned from abroad and were found to be carrying the H1N1
virus, according to the state news agency WAM. The Ministry of
Health said both were in a stable condition and receiving treatment.
There were no details of how the infection was discovered. Another
UAE national who was confirmed four days ago as having tested
positive for swine flu has completely recovered and has left
hospital, the ministry said. The Emirati man had flown into the
country from the U.S. The UAE's first recorded case was last month
when a man who had visited Canada returned to the country carrying
the virus. The man, who works as an academic at UAE University in
Al Ain, presented himself to hospital with flu-like symptoms. He
was given medication and told to remain at home. He is now said to
have made a full recovery. Yesterday's announcement follows the
World Health Organization's decision to classify the swine flu
outbreak as a worldwide pandemic. The Ministry of Health
immediately announced it was reviewing screening measures at all
airports monitoring passengers arriving for swine flu.
Thermal-imaging cameras that can detect fever in people arriving
into the country are at Abu Dhabi and Dubai International Airports.
A radio and TV campaign offering information on the virus has also
been launched.

The ministry said in yesterday's statement on WAM that swine flu
infections occur and urged people not to panic and deal with cases
calmly. People are also urged to report any suspected cases to
health authorities. Enough medication, the drug Tamiflu, has been
stockpiled by the UAE to cover the whole population, the ministry
reiterated."


4. Under the headline "Students told to get in touch with UAE
authorities over swine flu fears," Dubai-based English daily "Gulf

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News" (circulation 95,000) on 06/18 released following article:

"Abu Dhabi: Students studying abroad have been asked to call
emergency numbers and notify UAE authorities should they suspect
they have symptoms of swine flu. 'We have provided UAE embassies
and cultural attaches around the world with emergency contact
numbers and email addresses to make it easy for the students to
record any cases,' an official said. Gulf News on Tuesday reported
that Emirati students abroad planning to return home for the summer
holidays will be quarantined should they show symptoms of swine flu.
The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research on
Thursday said expatriate students will also be monitored. The
ministry has already started follow up procedures to check Emirati
and expatriate students.

'The ministry has contacted the UAE embassies in the U.S., Canada,
Australia, New Zealand and Europe to get details about the students,
both Emirati and expatriates and follow affected cases,' a ministry
official told Gulf News.

'There are about 1,950 Emirati students studying under scholarships
with the Ministry, and the number of UAE students outside the UAE is
more than 2,000, but we don't have the number of expatriate
students.'

UAE embassies in the U.S. and Canada have also issued circulars,
warning students that Ohio, California, New York, Kansas City and
Texas have been affected by swine flu.

It is encouraging Emiratis abroad to remain in contact with those
who are responsible for them or if they do not have anyone, to
contact the embassy.

They have been urged to remain indoors in dormitories or residences
and to avoid travelling to areas that have swine flu.

Meanwhile, the Abu Dhabi International Airport is stepping up
precautionary measures against flu as the number of cases reported
in the region is on the upswing.

'We are facilitating the establishment of mobile health clinics at
the airport,' an Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) official told
Gulf News.

ADAC, being the airport operator, has overseen the deployment of
high-tech thermal-imaging cameras and mobile detecting devices.
Five imaging cameras have been deployed at Abu Dhabi airport and one
at both Al Ain International and Al Bateen Executive Airport."



5. Under the headline "H1N1 exaggeration," Sami Al-Reyami, UAE
Chief Editor, wrote an op-ed on 06/21 in Dubai-based Arabic tabloid
daily "Emarat Al-Youm" (circulation 20,000):

"Why is there all of this exaggeration about the swine flu? Yes it
is true that it can quickly spread and move from one person to
another. But, as a UAE medical student in the U.S. said in an email
she wrote to me, it does not kill you if you have good health.
There is no reason to panic. This fact is something the UAE
Ministry of Health should stress and explain. We cannot blame the
Ministry of Health because it is simply applying the same
precautions and measures that the rest of the world is taking. If
they didn't do that, officials in the ministry could make some
people here upset and might even be accused of taking an indifferent
stance. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, but that
doesn't mean that swine flu is invincible. It also doesn't mean it
is worse than cancer or AIDs. Maybe after several years, we will
figure out the real reason behind the world's exaggerated response
to H1N1."

GREEN