Waheed Uz Zaman Tariq
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: JAA
Introduction: Th e Pandemic started from Mexico and the United States in early 2009 and aff ected all the world. Th e United Arab Emirates was aff ected from autumn 2009 and went through winter 2010. It had high rate of infection with low mortality. Th ere was more panic spread by the media and the timely preparations helped to control the pandemic, identify the infected cases, isolate and treat the patients and off er prophylaxis to the contacts. Material and Method: Th is retrospective data covers a seven months period; First of November 2009 to 31st of May 2010. Altogether, 856 cases were referred to us for diagnosis by sending their nasopharyngeal isolates, for diagnosis. Th e cases were referred from all primary health clinics of Al Ain, Al Wagan Hospital, Al Ain hospital and Al Mafraq Hospital. Th e main bulk of cases was from Emergency Department of Tawam Hospital, Al Ain. Although, direct immunofl uorescence microscopy and other quick strip test methods were also applied for emergency purposes but all these cases were tested my molecular techniques RT-PCR for specifi c genes. Th e test was quickly established and the service remained available uninterrupted. Out of 856 cases of possible infl uenza like illness, 236 showed reactivity and were confi rmed to be infected by the pandemic starain of H1N1. Results: Th e peak of the outbreak occurred in the month of December, 2010. Th e highest rate of the positivity was in the early days of December 2009 but the number of samples remained high aft erwards, with decreasing positivity. Th is was due to more concern of testing any cases with fl u like symptoms and panic in the public. Since January 2010, there was a sharp decline of the cases and then the local cases started disappearing.
