Swine Flu influenza in Dubai ?

"Currently there is no actual threat of swine flu to the UAE. We are monitoring the situation," he said.

The outbreak of swine flu was first reported in Mexico and the United States and experts have warned about its pandemic potential as it has claimed over 68 lives and sickened over 1,000 others.

The alarming situation had forced World Health Organisation (WHO) director-general Margaret Chan to convene a meeting of

the Emergency Committee to assess the situation and advise her on appropriate responses.

After reviewing available data on the current situation, committee members identified a number of gaps in knowledge about the clinical features, epidemiology, and virology of reported cases and the appropriate responses.

In a telephone news conference in Geneva, Chan said: "The situation is evolving quickly. The new disease is by definition poorly understood."

Al Turki said: "This particular type of flu can be transmitted by being close to pigs; so in this regard there is no real threat in the UAE. The disease is also not transmitted through the food chain."

"We are also keeping a close surveillance on people coming from the infected part of the world based on the slightest flu like symptoms. There is a potential for this flu to turn into an epidemic because this particular virus changes its genetic composition. It can infect pigs but human-to-human transmission does not take place," he added.

Meanwhile, Francisco Alonso, consul-general of Mexico in Dubai, said that his diplomatic mission is yet to receive enquiries about the outbreak or panic calls from the community. No enquiries had been received from visa applicants either, he said. "My government is constantly in touch with us on this problem. There is nothing to panic. I am glad to inform you that the situation is very much under control in Mexico.

"There has been no fall in the number of visa applicants that we receive each day. The diplomatic mission was opened last year and since then the number of Emiratis who apply for a visa has risen. Majority apply for business visas. The consulate receives three to five visa applicants per day," he said.