Passengers transiting form countries hit by the H1N1 virus are tested and treated locally in Dubai. During the transit period in Dubai, passengers are quickly tested on the aircraft before disembarking. Head of Infectious Disease Unit in Rashid Hospital explained “A special ambulance takes doctors to the aircraft to test passengers where a rapid test is carried out.”
Dr. Abudulla Ustadi said patients testing positive are bought to quarantine ward 17 and given the antiviral drug tamiflu. In May, three passengers arriving in Dubai from India tested positive. The Ministry of Health is notified if a passenger tests positive. He said “We have nothing to worry about until now since most of the cases are mild and treatable.”
