Dubai Health Authority denies malaria report

Health Authority refutes XPRESS story on local emergence of malaria in Dubai; says cases were imported DUBAI: The Director General of Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has denied the XPRESS report (Malaria Scare Hits International City, December 15) regarding the emergence of local cases of malaria in Dubai. In an e-mail statement, Qadi Saeed Al Murooshid said the newspaper report is completely untrue. He said a team of specialists was sent to the site to investigate and review the medical records of patients mentioned by Dr Fawzia Ayub. It was found that all cases are linked to their travel to infected countries (Pakistan and India) and that the patients spent long periods in those countries before returning to Dubai. Al Murooshid said Dr Fawzia is not an official source and not authorised to release information on infectious disease to the media. He said her disclosure of patients' medical information shows she did not adhere to confidentiality and privacy laws, adding that Dr Fawzia's failure to report the existence of such claimed cases is also a violation of the law. There's an electronic linking system between DHA and all medical facilities in Dubai that includes a programme for reporting infectious diseases instantly upon discovery. This enables DHA to take all urgent measures to prevent the spread of such diseases within the emirate, he said. Article continues below Al Murooshid said they will refer Dr Fawzia to the medical violation committee, adding that DHA will retain its legal rights against the doctor and the medical facility she works for after conducting an investigation. Al Murooshid added that the UAE has made excellent achievements in the fight against communicable and infectious diseases, which is confirmed by the WHO reports. EDITOR'S NOTE: The XPRESS story was based on the information given by Dr Fawzia Ayub and medical reports of patients procured by the newspaper. An XPRESS reporter and photographer who visited International City found mosquitoes breeding in stagnant waters. Several residents of International City also complained about mosquitoes.