Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Health has launched a public awareness campaign about the H1N1 virus (swine flu) among UAE residents and tourists.

The initiative was launched in response to the Who Health Organization’s recent raising of the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 6, indicating that a global pandemic is underway. Over 55,000 confirmed cases have been reported all over the world, posing a real threat to the global travel and tourism industries.

The awareness campaign includes the distribution of leaflets on the virus – including information about the illness, modes of transmission, symptoms and prevention – to all hotel premises and tourism facilities in the emirate of Sharjah in order to provide tourists with necessary information on preventive measures to help combat the outbreak.

The move reflects the SCTDA’s keenness to educate residents and tourists on ways to prevent contracting and spreading the virus.

Commenting on the occasion, Ms Maysoon Al Hosani, SCTDA's tourism industry Department Manager, said that the move will help to increase confidence in the SCTDA's preventive scheme, based around spreading awareness about this global pandemic, which struck 117 countries around the world. This requires joint efforts to prevent the contagious virus from spreading and to promote effective methods of prevention.

“The necessary plans have been put in place with government-level efforts, spearheaded by the Ministry of Health, aiming to restrict the spread of the flu across the country. The UAE’s airports and entry points have been equipped with thermal scanners and medical staff to detect possible swine flu cases. This, together with other similar efforts, such as the cooperation among different governmental medical authorities and departments and the launch of a series of joint awareness campaigns across the country, have significantly contributed to keeping the virus at bay. As part of these extensive efforts, the SCTDA has embarked on a joint initiative with the Ministry of Health to provide hotel premises and tourism facilities with leaflets on the flu, its risks and methods of prevention. This programme is very useful for tourists and residents, especially the targeted group: those staying at the emirate’s hotels,” she added.

Al Hosani hailed the cooperation between all concerned parties in the country to support this preventive campaign, which will cover all tourism facilities and the public places in the UAE. She underlined the importance of spreading awareness among tourists and educating them on how to prevent contracting the virus so as to avoid the risks related to this highly contagious flu, reiterating that all involved institutions should participate in the awareness programme.