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Iraq confirms first H1N1 death
Iraq's Ministry of Health has announced the first mortality, a 20-year-old woman, as a result of swine flu in the southern Najaf governorate, Kuna has reported. The number of confirmed swine flue cases in Iraq now stands at 67, 39 of whom belonged to the multi-national forces personnel.
Qatar orders swine flu vaccine
Qatar has ordered 500,000 swine flu vaccines from the World Health Organisation. Dr Ahmed Kamal Naji, Assistant Minister for Health Affairs, said: "We hope to receive the first consignment of vaccines by October. And we are ready to import more in future too," he told the Qatar Tribune. To date, 43 cases of the H1N1 virus have been reported in Qatar, with one fatality.
Health insurance gears up in Qatar
Once the law making health cover compulsory for expatriate workers in Qatar is enforced, insurance providers are expecting an increase in demand for their services, The Peninsula has reported. While there are no certainties yet when the proposed legislation would be implemented, insurance providers are gearing up to cope with the expected demand. Risk underwriters who did not have health insurance units are taking steps to open this service. The report further mentioned Doha Insurance has established a separate medical insurance department some six months ago, while some local banks have been noted to enter the medical insurance industry, including Doha Bank.
Haj pilgrims required to prove health
Haj pilgrims required to prove health Saudi Arabia's ministry of health has said that Haj pilgrims arriving in the kingdom will be required to show proof that they have received flu shots at home and to provide health certificates showing that they do not have chronic diseases. "No one will be able to get a visa without fulfilling these new rules," the ministry has said. The ministry is also considering restricting Haj pilgrims to between 12 and 65, but said each country's Haj quota will be unaffected. To date Saudi Arabia has reported over 600 H1N1 sufferers, with six deaths.
More H1N1 cases reported in Oman
Oman's has reported 30 new cases of H1N1 virus infection over the past two days. Most patients recovered after receiving treatment at home, officials said. It brings the total number of reported wine flu cases in the sultanate to 155.
No school closures planned due to Swine flu
Fahad Al Gais, the education assistant undersecretary for private education at Kuwait's Ministry of Education, has said it will not postpone the new academic year amid concerns that there could be a high number of swine flu cases in private schools, attended mostly by foreign pupils, Gulf News has reported. Swine flu has not reached proportions that would warrant the option to leave schools closed and postpone their opening, he said.
Bahrain to buy Tamiflu alternative
A Bahraini health official has said the kingdom is to stock up on a GlaxoSmithKline anti-influenza drug called Relenza, to ensure it can treat strains of swine flu that are resistant to Tamiflu. The volume of drugs required has not been decided yet, Salmaniya Medical Complex infection control head Dr Jameela Al Salman, told Gulf Daily News.
Saudi government approves local anti-swine flu drug
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has approved the first Saudi produced anti-swine flu drug, which has now been officially registered by the Saudi Ministry of Health. SFDA VP Saleh Bawazir said the "Osilta" drug is only available by prescription to people who have contracted swine flu. It will cost SR91, 30% less than previously used drugs, according to the Saudi Gazette. The drug will be made available to GCC countries.
Saudi Arabia to curb e-cigarette imports
Saudi Arabia's ministries of trade and industry and health are studying ways to curb the entry of banned electronic cigarette devices, known as 'e-cigarettes', into the kingdom, The Peninsula has reported. The move comes after the issuance of a warning on the use of these devices by the US Food and Drug Administration, which had said they contain harmful carcinogenic and toxic substances, notably diethylene glycol, a toxic chemical used in antifreeze. 'E-cigarettes', which sell for around SR500, are manufactured in China to be marketed globally, mainly in Europe.
Swine flu vaccine likely in Qatar by September
Qatar's Ministry of Health has said it expects to receive stocks of swine flu vaccine, once it is ready for use, by September-October this year, The Peninsula has reported. Vaccination priority will be given to this year's Hajj pilgrims, the ministry said.
Jordan to stop announcing individual cases of swine flu
Jordan's Ministry of Health has decided to stop announcing individual cases of H1N1 flu in the kingdom, and will instead issue weekly updates, reported Jordan Times. 'We decided to follow the World Health Organisation's regulations of not announcing the cases, since the pandemic is spreading uncontrollably all around the world,' the ministry said. The ministry has also said it is considering the possibility of giving patients treatment at home, without referring them to hospitals.
Four new hospitals to be built in UAE
The UAE's Ministry of Public Works has announced that four more government hospitals will be set up in the Northern Emirates, Khaleej Times has reported. The hospitals include Shaikh Khalifa Specialist Hospital in Ras Al Khaimah, Obstetrics, Maternity and Paediatrics Hospital in Sharjah, Masfoot Hospital in Ajman and Umm Al Quwain Hospital.
Gastric surgery soars in UAE
Doctors have reported a soaring number of people turning to gastric surgery in order to lose weight, The National has reported. Increases of up to 500% have been noted and doctors have said they are operating on patients as young as 12. Health experts fear the surgery may become a quick fix for some people and want national guidelines to regulate who can perform the surgery and who should be treated. The surgery could cost more than Dhs50,000. The report also revealed that some insurance plans with high premiums in the UAE cover bariatric surgery, such as Thiqa, the national health insurance programme for Emiratis, many providers do not include it from their policies, as often it is labeled as cosmetic.
Emaar Healthcare Group expands in Dubai
Emaar Healthcare Group, a subsidiary of Emaar Properties, has said it plans to open new facilities in Downtown Burj Dubai, Arabian Ranches and The Meadows. The Downtown Burj Dubai Medical Centre, which opens later this year, will be the company's flagship healthcare facility, providing a full range of primary patient care specialties within an out-patient facility, and will also offer advanced services in diagnostic imaging with on-site laboratory facilities. The opening of Downtown Burj Dubai Medical Centre, a multi-speciality outpatient centre, and the community clinics, will mark the start of a patient referral network which will later be supported by a secondary care hospital.
All UAE pupils to get swine flu vaccine
The UAE's Ministry of Health has announced that more than 600,000 schoolchildren are to be inoculated against swine flu once the vaccine is ready, which is expected to be by late September, The National has reported. Vaccination against the H1N1 virus will be mandatory for all public and private schoolchildren aged five and up, the ministry said.
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