The apex health body’s Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO) in Cairo, Egypt, has also urged countries in the region not to lower their guard against swine flu at any point of time.
“With the summer season approaching during which time a lot of travel and public events of mass gatherings may occur, it is important to be prepared and extra careful, although WHO is not recommending any travel restrictions or border closures,” the office said in a statement.
Speaking to Khaleej Times from Cairo, WHO Regional Advisor Dr Hassan El Bushra said health ministries should be vigilant against any possible increase in the spread of infections due to summer travel.
“Though there are no formal travel restrictions, we want people to avoid nonessential travel plans to affected countries with an ongoing outbreak,” said Dr Bushra, who is also the Director of Communicable Diseases Surveillance Unit at EMRO.
He said people should know the differences in the situation of countries affected. “Some countries, like in the region, have reported only isolated and imported cases of infection. But in some other countries, local transmission of virus is going on within the country. If there is no specific need, people should avoid travelling to such countries.”
Khaleej Times on Thursday reported that travel agencies in Dubai have recorded a rise in the bookings for holiday travel after a slump of three weeks following the swine flu outbreak late in April. The report also showed that many families are now favouring Middle Eastern locations for their summer holiday trips. Dr Bushra said those who are sick should not travel and should stay away from social gatherings, work places and schools. “I recommend people not to even go for the Friday prayers at mosques if they have any flu-like symptoms.”
He advised people to keep personal hygiene, avoid crowding, wash hands often with soap and water, keep distance from the sick and avoid dealing directly with them as preventive measures against the new virus.
Passengers from affected countries are advised to seek immediate medical help if they develop symptoms like high temperature, cough, sore throat, pain in the eyes and lack of breath, besides pain in muscles.
WHO EMRO has so far been informed of 25 laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with new influenza A (H1N1) virus from six member states in the region.
“All the cases of new influenza A (H1N1) virus infection reported to date have been found among travellers coming from affected areas outside the region. There has been no locally acquired infection. (However)… it remains uncertain how quickly the virus will spread within affected countries and to other countries of the region,” added the EMRO statement.
Kuwait reported the highest number of confirmed cases in the region, 18, among the US troops who transited through the country.
Bahrain, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia have reported one case each while Lebanon has reported three confirmed cases.
Egypt, under EMRO, has confirmed one case and became the first country in Africa to report H1N1 infection. Though Israel has reported 33 cases is located in the Middle East, it comes under the WHO’s European Regional Office.
