Earlier this week, the United Arab Emirates has confirmed four cases of the flu-like, Chinese coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in a family who has just returned from Wuhan, the epicenter of this new viral outbreak. The health authorizes declared that this family is currently under treatment and recovering.
The governmental news agency announced these details but no further information on where they are being treated and when did they make entry to UAE. The United Arab Emirates contains seven sheikhdoms all of which are located on the Arabian Peninsula. It includes Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi and four others.
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The UAE based airlines i.e. Emirates and Etihad Airways are considered among the best airlines in the world. However, this new Chinese coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak has restricted travelers coming from China for virus screening.
So far, it is not clear how this family left Wuhan and came to the UAE when the Chinese airports were facing a shutdown. This current shutdown has affected 17 countries and millions of people.
The officials from Emirates say that;
“All the necessary precautions in accordance with the scientific recommendations, conditions, and standards approved by the World Health Organization,”
They also shared that;
“We are providing masks and hand sanitizers to all crew on our flights to China, our crew who serve passengers with any symptoms have been advised to wear masks onboard.”
The Ministry of Health shared; “The general health condition is not a cause for concern.”
This new Chinese coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was first reported in December 2019 in Wuhan and ever since it has never stopped to spread. It appears like common cold and pneumonia and it doesn’t show any distinct characteristic symptom, which is why it was difficult to identify initially.
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This virus (2019-nCoV) shows so much similarity with SARS and MERS two similar strains from the same family, coronaviradae. However, it is genetically different from SARS and MERS, two animal-sourced viral diseases.
This viral outbreak started a month ago and till the date, it has killed more than 130 people. Coronavirus has spread to other countries as well via people who recently traveled to Wuhan and returned to their countries.
Currently, there is no vaccine or medicine available that kills this virus. The researchers are trying to locate its source and the full extent of its spread which are largely unknown. World Health Organization says it is too early to call it a global health threat and most of the cases or coronavirus (2019-nCoV) are mild. Only 20% of these infected patients showed extreme symptoms or are at a fatal stage.
The international tourism industry has been heavily affected by this coronavirus outbreak. UAE is a hub of cheaper oil and a huge business market which is a prime attraction for people all around the world, mainly Chinese. But as coronavirus has spread to all these countries, the Chinese tourists may not get clearance for traveling UAE for some time.
