Personal, Occupational, and Public Health Perspectives on Dealing with the First Case of Influenza A (H1N1) in the United Arab Emirates

Shah, Syed M.; Aw, Tar-Ching; Blair, Iain; Hashmey, Rayhan; Sheek-Hussein, Mahmoud

Where new epidemics of infectious diseases appear, history has shown that the cases have often included healthcare workers, and their family members [4] . The index case for Ebola infection was a hospital laboratory worker, and secondary cases occurred in other healthcare workers and within the family. Two-thirds of the deaths from the early outbreaks of Ebola infection occurred in healthcare staff. The early cases of SARS and H5N1 infection included doctors and nurses [5] [6] [7] . The likelihood of healthcare staff being affected in such infections is high, especially in the absence of adequate preventive measures, or if there is poor compliance with recommended precautions. In this particular first reported case of H1N1 infection in the UAE, prompt and appropriate action resulted in the individual being treated, the risk of transmission being reduced, and the provision of information being timely and adequate. None of the known contacts developed signs and symptoms of the disease. It was not possible to contact the taxi driver who shared the same vehicle with the case during the hour long journey from the airport home, but there were no reports of infection in any Dubai taxi driver in the 2 weeks following the journey.