Abu dhabi, August 13: Indian expatriates in the UAE are becoming increasingly concerned about the reports of the rising number of swine flu infections and deaths in their home country even as their Embassy here advised them not to panic.
“The central and state governments in India are taking all possible steps on a war-footing to contain the spread of the disease and to treat those already infected. There is no outbreak of the disease in the UAE. Even in India the outbreak is highly localised and the people in that vicinity have to follow the precautionary instructions being issued by the local health authorities,’’ the Indian Ambassador to the UAE Talmiz Ahmed told Khaleej Times here.
“All those travelling to India from abroad are being screened and are being asked to submit their health details to the authorities in a prescribed format at the airports. Pamphlets containing the details of the precautionary measures, symptoms of the disease and the treatment are being distributed to the travellers to India,” the official said.
“Efforts are being made to contain the spread of infection by closing the schools, shopping malls and other public places so that those infected can stay back home and avoid the spread of the disease. Good detection and treatment facilities have also been put in place. The swine flu infection came to Pune through a group of students who had gone on an excursion to a foreign country,’’ he said.
“Expatriates hailing from Pune and other parts of the Indian State of Maharashtra are more worried because much of the swine flu deaths (eight out of total 15 deaths so far) and infections are coming from that region,” said NV Kulkarni, from Pune.”
“Even though there are reports of the government taking some steps to contain the infection there is no adequate efforts to create awareness on the preventive measures to be adopted,” added Kulkarni an expat engineer with ZADCO.
“Many of the expatriates, especially the children and ladies are in India now on vacation. Some of the expatriates from Pune are thinking of cutting short their holidays and come back to the UAE to avoid the disease. They are also worried whether there will be problems during their return if the spread of infection intensify in India,’’ Kulkarni said. Many expatriate families now on vacation in India are worried not only about the spread of infection but about the possible insistence by the UAE authorities for any additional health certificates when they return, said Satish Thatte another UAE-based Pune native and is an executive with Honeywell Middle East. “Some families returned to Dubai two days back and no certificates were asked by the authorities at the airport. We hope the situation in Abu Dhabi will also be the same,’’ he added.
The Indian Embassy officials also disclosed that they have not received any communication from the UAE authorities insisting on any health certificates from expatriates returning from India or any other country.
“I’m worried calling up regularly my parents, in-laws and other close relatives to find out whether they have any signs of fever. I advise them to take all the precautions, and go to the doctor even if they have any traces of fever. Sitting here what more can you do for your people back home?,’’ said Priya Pakale from Mumbai and is a National Bank of Bahrain employee here.
“There are intense campaigns particularly on the television in India on the preventive measures against the disease and treatment,’’ she added.
“There is a growing fear even in my home state of Kerala about the spread of the disease. The disease has already claimed one life in the state and, several people from the various parts of the state have been infected, and are undergoing treatment,” said Kamarudheen Amayam of Al Meraikhi General Contracting.
“Now we understand with shock that the deceased person was working in Abu Dhabi. But he had reportedly been infected during his recent trip to Andaman Islands,” he said.
“Some of the expatriates who had gone on vacation to Kerala have cancelled their trips to other states within the country because of the spread of the disease,’’ Amayam said.
–Agencies