The Technical Health Committee for Combating H1N1 virus stressed in its meeting yesterday held at the UAE Ministry of Health (MoH) in Dubai that the treatment of H1N1 virus is available for all patients at public and private hospitals. Dr Mahmoud Fikri, executive director for the health policies affairs and chairman of the committee, said the directives of the Health Minister and Chairman of the Higher Supervisory Committee on Combating H1N1 virus, Dr Hanif Hassan, outlined the need for following up all details related to H1N1 virus and its resistance. In the light of the instructions, he continued, the MoH in cooperation with competent authorities nationwide provides the required treatment for all patients across the country as per medical measures specified by the World Health Organization (WHO). The committee discussed the latest development about the disease at the local, regional and international levels. Dr Fikri noted that the committee also discussed the precautionary measures undertaken at the borders, adding that it has been agreed there was no need to install the thermal cameras at the GCC borders at this stage. He noted that the side effects that follow vaccination were minor and similar to the side effects of seasonal flu vaccines, but added that there is a mechanism to follow up such side effects when they occur, according to a report of the UAE news agency "WAM"
