- DUBAI -- Emirates airline
denied rumours that an employee had the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
(SARS) yesterday.
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- Last week, rumour had it that an Emirates cabin crew
member had contracted SARS, and was admitted to Welcare Hospital.
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- Speaking to Gulf News, Mike Simon, Director Corporate
Communication at Emirates, stated that this was simply a rumour.
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- "I heard about this rumour only three days back.
We receive calls from people worried about the SARS virus, but not regarding
this rumour.
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- "Our flights to the infected areas did not change,
and we still have our regular flights. In these areas, people die from
different types of diseases such as flu, and SARS is nothing," he
said.
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- Simon assured that there was no one suffering from SARS
among their staff.
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- Dr Alasdair Beatton, Emirates' Head of Medical Services,
confirmed yesterday that no passenger on an Emirates flight and no member
of the Emirates crew had been confirmed as having SARS. He added that the
health authorities had also confirmed that there were no SARS cases.
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- Emirates' Medical Services is monitoring developments
while coordinating with the medical departments of other airlines and with
local health authorities. Any recommendation released to airlines by the
World Health Organisation on SARS or any other matter relating to passenger
health and safety is implemented.
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- All aircraft have been equipped with extra face masks,
disposable gloves and biohazard plastic bags. Ground staff as well as flight
and cabin crew have been briefed on procedures if a passenger is unwell
and SARS is suspected.
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- Any instructions put out by local health authorities
at Emirates' destinations regarding incoming passengers to their airports
are fully complied with.
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- Passengers arriving in Dubai on flights from Hong Kong
and Singapore are asked to complete an immigration card. An announcement
to this effect will be made on incoming aircraft from Singapore and Hong
Kong.
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- He added that Emirates subscribes to MedLink, a Phoenix,
USA-based service which provides cabin crew on aircraft in flight anywhere
in the world instant, round-the-clock telephone access to advice from a
panel of doctors.
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- Speaking to Gulf News, an official from Welcare Hospital
in Dubai said: "We did not have any case of SARS in our hospital.
Furthermore, officials from the Ministry of Health has also confirmed that
the UAE is free of SARS. All what I hear is rumour, and not true."
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- Meanwhile, Cathay Pacific has informed that all flights
from and to Dubai will continue as usual.
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- Despite the spread of SARS in the Far East, The Hong
Kong Jewellery and Jade Manufacturers Association confirmed that they would
be present in full force at the forthcoming International Jewell-ery Dubai
(IJD) organised by the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from April 22 to
26.
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- Abdullah T. Qassem, Acting Assis-tant General Manager,
DWTC, said: "As we prepare for another exceptional event, we are encouraged
by the confirmation from the Hong Kong Association that brings the participation
of 45 exhibitors, that they will be exhibiting at our event in full strength."
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- He noted that each individual exhibitor from Hong Kong
would provide a health certificate from an authorised medical practitioner
confirming that they are in good health and free from SARS.
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- Qassem added that even though the authorities in the
UAE are alert and have contingency plans in place, a health certificate
would reassure other exhibitors.
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- Hong Kong exhibitors are one of the largest contingents
at the IJD and take up 507 square metres of space in halls 1,2 and 3.
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- Catherine Chan, General Manager of the Hong Kong Jewellery
and Jade Manufacturers Association said: "The Hong Kong contingent
of exhibitors is eager to participate in the IJD and will be present in
full force at this event which is a permanent fixture in our international
promotions and through Dubai we reach out to a high profile target audience
of trade buyers as well as affluent private buyers with enormous purchasing
power and a keen preference for top class jewellery, watches and silverware."
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- http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=84158
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