The UAE has experienced a rise in flu rates in recent weeks, with doctors saying it is not too late to get the seasonal vaccination.
Schools and hospitals in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah said they have collectively recorded hundreds of cases of fever and other flu-like symptoms.
“We are anticipating a rough influenza season,” said Dr Ravi Arora, an endocrinology specialist at NMC Specialty Hospital in Abu Dhabi.
“This year the wave has started much earlier, even before the real winter has arrived."
The fever is refusing to go down. I'm told that I am severally dehydrated. I don't think this should be taken lightly and people shouldn't put off taking the vaccine
Dr Maha Ahmed,
flu patient
"Normally, we expect this to arise in November or early December but we’ve been seeing cases for the last couple of weeks. Covid hasn't fully gone yet, so that's on top of the influenza cases."
February and early March is normally the peak, he said.
The flu vaccine was introduced last month and the government advised everyone to get vaccinated, particularly people with underlying medical conditions.
On Friday, pupils will break up for a week's holiday for half term before returning on October 24.
Schools could experience a rise in cases once pupils return from holidays, and headteachers said parents should not send children in if they are sick.
Dr Maha Ahmed, 29, a dentist, is nine months pregnant. She caught the virus from her 2-year-old son. She has been in a Dubai hospital for the past three days.
"The fever is refusing to go down. I'm told that I am severally dehydrated," she told The National.
"I'm very worried about my unborn baby. I was told today that my condition is stable but I've never been through anything this bad before.
"Covid didn't end me in the hospital. I don't think this should be taken lightly and people shouldn't put off taking the vaccine."
Mohammad Al Qassem, head of education at Al Shola Private School in Sharjah, said he has one class in which 12 pupils out of 30 are absent.
“We’ve noticed many cases coming to the school clinic with a high fever of around 38°C and above since the beginning of last week," he said.
Pupils were told to remain home if they have any symptoms.
“This has been slightly challenging because it is exam week and pupils insist on coming to school,” he said.
'With masks removed, we've stepped up precautions'
Shiny Davison, principal at the Indian Academy in Dubai, said the school has about 35 to 40 children off out of 1,200 pupils.
“We have sent a circular to parents and informed them that they must be careful," she said.
"We have a school doctor who gives lessons to pupils on how to prevent infection and take care of themselves. With masks removed, schools have stepped up measures to ensure infections do not go up."
Lisa Johnson, principal at the American Academy for Girls added: “I did tell the pupils when the masks came off that if they had sniffles, to take a Covid test and wear a mask even if the result was negative."
Symptoms are a high fever that could go up to 40°C, a runny nose, sneezing, sore throat and sometimes vomiting.
Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, paediatric infectious disease consultant at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City in Abu Dhabi, said flu cases were expected to be the highest since before the coronavirus pandemic.
“Because of distance learning and restrictions, numbers were very low, but because of the recent return to normalcy and the reduction of restrictions, we do expect an increase in influenza cases," she said.
“People should get vaccinated, particularly those with risk factors. Handwashing is more effective than wearing masks.
"This isn’t as serious as Covid but can be for high-risk groups. It can also be easily prevented."
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Specs
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Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
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Teaching in coronavirus times
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
Four-day collections of TOH
Day Indian Rs (Dh)
Thursday 500.75 million (25.23m)
Friday 280.25m (14.12m)
Saturday 220.75m (11.21m)
Sunday 170.25m (8.58m)
Total 1.19bn (59.15m)
(Figures in millions, approximate)
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Where to apply
Applicants should send their completed applications - CV, covering letter, sample(s) of your work, letter of recommendation - to Nick March, Assistant Editor in Chief at The National and UAE programme administrator for the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism, by 5pm on April 30, 2020.
Please send applications to nmarch@thenational.ae and please mark the subject line as “Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism (UAE programme application)”.
The local advisory board will consider all applications and will interview a short list of candidates in Abu Dhabi in June 2020. Successful candidates will be informed before July 30, 2020.
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
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RESULTS
Main card
Bantamweight 56.4kg: Mehdi Eljamari (MAR) beat Abrorbek Madiminbekov (UZB), Split points decision
Super heavyweight 94 kg: Adnan Mohammad (IRN) beat Mohammed Ajaraam (MAR), Split points decision
Lightweight 60kg: Zakaria Eljamari (UAE) beat Faridoon Alik Zai (AFG), RSC round 3
Light heavyweight 81.4kg: Taha Marrouni (MAR) beat Mahmood Amin (EGY), Unanimous points decision
Light welterweight 64.5kg: Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK) beat Nouredine Samir (UAE), Unanimous points decision
Light heavyweight 81.4kg: Ilyass Habibali (UAE) beat Haroun Baka (ALG), KO second round
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
Malcolm & Marie
Directed by: Sam Levinson
Starring: John David Washington and Zendaya
Three stars
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
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