NATION

4
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A8 | NATION
Gut diseases on
the rise in UAE
Friday, Apri! 4, 2I4
NATION A5
Gulf News | Friday, April 4, 2014 | gulfnews.com
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70093780_1.1
Five years in jail for
spreading infections
DRAFTLAWOUTLINESRULESFORREPORTINGCOMMUNICABLEDISEASES
ABU DHABI
A
uthorities will take
stringent measures
to control the spread
of communicable
diseases while safe-
guarding patients privacy and
the right to access health care
at government hospitals, ac-
cording to a newdraft law.
The legislation, being re-
viewedbythe health committee
of the Federal National Council
(FNC), states that a person who
knowingly exposes another to a
communicable disease can get
up to ve years in prison, a ne
of up to Dh100,000 or both.
Under the bill, a communi-
cable disease is dened as an
illness that occurs through the
transmission of an infectious
agent or its toxic products from
a reservoir to a susceptible host,
either directly or indirectly.
The draft lawrequires physi-
cians, medical technicians and
chemists to immediate report
an encounter with persons
known or suspected to be in-
fectedwith certain diseases, in-
cluding anthrax, cholera, avian
inuenza, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis
(A,E) and tuberculosis (pulmo-
nary and extra-pulmonary).
Leprosy, malaria, measles,
meningitis, plague and small-
pox would also be among a list
of nearly 30contagious diseases
to be reported immediately. The
list may be modied to include
any unusual, emerging disease.
Chickenpox, inuenza,
mumps, scabies, typhoid and
paratyphoid, hepatitis (B,C,D)
and ailments relating to an
animal disease that can infect
humans must be reported to
authorities within a week.
Restricted travel
Persons who knowor suspect
they are infected with any com-
municablediseasewill bebarred
fromtravelling anywhere except
a clinic to seek health care, un-
less otherwise permitted by the
health ministry.
Travellers who have or are
carriers of a communicable dis-
ease will also be denied entry to
the UAE unless they obtain the
ministrys consent. They have
to inform authorities immedi-
ately on arrival.
The bill will revoke Federal
LawNo 27 of 1981 on protection
from contagious diseases.
Information related to pa-
tients or suspected patients
with communicable diseases
such as medical records and
medical history shall not be
disclosed, unless disclosure is
required by law.
The bill encourages resi-
dents to undergo voluntary
medical examination.
By SnmR SnLnmn
Associate Editor
Punishments
Those who knowingly fail
to report a communicable
disease or health condi-
tion under the draf lawwill
face a prison term of up to
three years, or a fne of up to
Dh10,000 or both.
Patients with contagious
diseases who fail to seek
treatment or dont obey
medical instructions to
prevent spread of the disease
will face a jail term of up to
three years or a fne of up to
Dh50,000 or both.
Who needs to notify
authorities
Cohabitants of the patients
or the deceased and persons
in charge of the patient.
Captains of ships, aircraf or
public transport drivers.
Persons in charge or manag-
ers of nursing homes, nursing
care institutions, placement
(reform) institutions, correc-
tion organisations and other
similar places;
Criminal investigators.
VI OLATI ONS
Jumeirah project makes healthy progress
Sankha Kar/Gulf News
Construction in progress on the jogging track that is part of the Jumeirah Corniche
Development Project in Dubai. The Jumeirah Open Beach track, which will be extended
from its current 1.5km, will also be widened to four metres. Once completed, the project
aims to facilitate a variety of sports, including jogging, walking, swimming and rowing.
31109418_1.1 31109621_1.1
Emirati dies from
coronavirus infection
ABU DHABI
A
a 64-year-old Emirati
man from Abu Dhabi has
become the latest victim
of the Middle East Respiratory
Syndrome coronavirus (Mers-
CoV), but UAE health ofcials
have stressed that there is no
cause for concern about the in-
fection spreading.
According to an ofcial at the
UAE Infection Control Commit-
tee, the victim succumbed to
the infection on March 30. The
Ministry of Health has notied
the World Health Organisation
(WHO) about the case.
According to the ofcial, the
patient had had direct contact
with camels, and also suffered
from underlying conditions,
including diabetes and hyper-
lipidemia.
He was being treated at a
public hospital at the capital
when he passed away.
His death follows that of a
40-year-old Omani resident in
Abu Dhabi on March 24, and
the infection of another Emirati
man, 49, who had had contact
with a previously-infected farm
owner.
The total number of cases of
Mers infection worldwide has
now surpassed 200, and was
recorded at 206 laboratory-
conrmed cases and 86 deaths
in the latest WHO disease out-
break report issued on March
27.
However, these statistics,
collected since September
2012, did not include the latest
death in Abu Dhabi.
Nevertheless, the situation
is not yet worrying because the
majority of cases in the UAE
have been noted among elderly
people who are already suffer-
ing from other chronic condi-
tions, the Infection Control
ofcial said.
We are continuing to moni-
tor cases across the country,
and in accordance with inter-
national recommendations, are
notifying the WHO regarding
any newcases, he added.
Limited transmission
The Mers virus resembles the
Severe Acute Respiratory Syn-
drome virus that killed a tenth
of the 8,000 people it infected
worldwide in late 2002 and ear-
ly 2003.
It has a mortality rate be-
tween 40 and 50 per cent, but
health experts say its transmis-
sion has been limited so far.
The source of the virus and
its transfer to humans is not
yet known, although bats and
camels have been mentioned
in previous studies. For those
visiting farms and animal shel-
ters, the WHO has therefore
urged adopting general hy-
giene measures, such as regular
hand washing before and after
touching animals, and avoiding
contact with sick creatures.
Ofcials stress that
Mers not a cause for
concern as cases have
largely been seen in
elderly, sick people
By Snmnnn Znmn
Sta Reporter
AL AIN
D
usty, cloudy and hazy
conditions are likely
to continue till to-
morrowas forecasters urged
motorists to be cautious due
to lowvisibility and chances
of light scattered rain.
The clouds, though scat-
tered in some areas, are ex-
pected to recede gradually,
leaving behind dusty and
hazy conditions, according
to the National Centre of
Meteorology and Seismol-
ogy (NCMS).
The unstable weather,
though not causing rain,
will continue to affect the
country, a forecaster said.
The amount of cloud cover
will increase today in dif-
ferent areas, resulting in
light to moderate rain.
Forecasters said the weath-
er system has moved over to
Iran leaving behind the dust
and scattered clouds.
Strong winds may kick
up dust and sand in open
areas. Light rain is expected
in some northern and east-
ern areas. The sea will re-
main rough in the Arabian
Gulf and the Sea of Oman.
The transition period be-
tween winter and summer
causes unexpected weather
changes, the NCMS said.
The UAE has experienced
strong south to south-east-
erly winds in the last several
days. The hot winds have
also raised temperature up
to 39 degree Celsius in in-
land desert areas.
Dusty
and hazy
weather on
the horizon
By Ar1ns Knzm
Bureau Chief
200
number of cases
of Mers infection
worldwide.
Statistics
UAEs geocachers treasure the thrills
ASMARTPHONE OR GPS DEVICE ANDPATIENCE IS ALL YOU NEEDTOJOIN THIS ADVENTUROUS ONLINE COMMUNITY
DUBAI
P
sssst! There are treas-
ure chests hidden all
across the UAE and you
likely dont know. That
person you see walk-
ing through Al Safa Park, look-
ing at a GPS and scanning the
ground carefully theyre in
the know.
Theyre geocachers hunt-
ing for the hidden treasure
troves right beneath your feet,
in cracks in trees, or buried un-
der bushes in the desert.
Al Safa Park is a location for
one of the hundreds of geo-
caches in Dubai and one of
more than two million geo-
caches around the world, ac-
cording to the geocaching.com.
For Ged Langosz or De-
sert Trekker in the geocaching
world it all started when he
stumbled upon the geocaching
website more than seven years
ago. Since then, he has found
more than 260 caches and hes
made a fair number of themtoo.
If youve been geocaching
in Dubai, you will most likely
know of one of them it lies
submerged in the Gulf and re-
quires scuba diving to nd it.
With a metre and a half of vis-
ibility at the best of times, only
two have succeeded.
You have to know what
youre doing, Langosz said.
For him, geocaching is a
chance for a little adventure, a
camping excursion, a hike, or a
scuba dive. When Langosz rst
started geocaching in Dubai
there, were only a few dozen
caches. Now there are many
and he appreciates a challenge,
hence the park and grabs
arent for him. But they are
exciting for parents who have
young children who want to
join in the excitement of nd-
ing hidden treasure.
Another cache Langosz hid is
called Animal Instincts. He rec-
ommends it because its not hard
to get to, but is a bit of a chal-
lenge. It requires the treasure-
hunter to answer some questions
at the Arabian Wildlife Centre
in Sharjah. Once the questions
from A to N are answered, the
coordinates are: North AB CD.
EFG, East HI JK. LMN.
Online rage
The online comments on this
cache rave about how nice it
was to go to the wildlife centre
and learn a fewthings.
You can learn a lot about
a country, he said. Back in
Northern Ireland, we have
seen bits and parts weve never
seen before. Historic churches
I never knew were there. He
is planning another trek in
Northern Ireland that will re-
quire him to hike up the moun-
tains. There are seven of these
and it can take a few hours to
climb up each one, but this is
why Langosz enjoys geocach-
ing so much.
He has planted a travel bug
before in Dubai with its goal
destination to be around where
his grand daughter lives. Peo-
ple picked it up and moved it
from location, to location, to
location until it made it all the
way up to Ireland and my grand
daughter could go and nd it,
Langosz said.
Julie Brown geocaches with
her two daughters and they go
by the name Desertsparkles.
Brown discovered geocaching
through a National Trust pro-
gramme called 50 things to do
before youre 11 and, as a ge-
ography teacher, the hobby is
right up her alley.
Togethertheyhavedoneabout
10caches inDubai andtheyhave
planted a few travel bugs. Its a
great way to get the kids out and
about, Brown said.
The cache they planted is
somewhere they knew, some-
where quiet in a park that they
dont think many people know
about. Brown has done some
geocaching in Europe and says
they put coins from the UAE
into those.
Some of these things are
planted in the most stunning
places, she said. Its a way
for locals to show visitors some
very unique and beautiful plac-
es they would not have seen
otherwise.
By MnRnn WRcn1
Special to Gulf News
Courtesy: Ged Langosz
Enjoying the challenge
Geo Langosz and his friends looking for a geocache. Al Safa Park is one of more than two million geocache locations globally.

You can learn a lot

about a country.
Back in Northern
Ireland, we have
seen bits and parts
weve never seen
before. Historic
churches I never
knew were there.
Ged Langosz |
Geocacher
Geocaching
A geocache is a hidden box
that can only be found by
using the coordinates on the
website. For example, at N
25 14.656 E 055 21.562 you
will fnd a geocache called
the Dubai Micro Mystery.
With the help of a smart-
phone or device with GPS,
you can go to that spot and
then proceed to fnd the hid-
den box in the area.
The geocaching app helps to
log your fnds, leave reviews,
or say if it was beyond your
reach sometimes literally.
Once the hidden box is found,
you can sign your name or
if youve brought some-
thing to add to the collection
of goodies you can take
one too. The hidden boxes
are caches while park and
grabs are when the cache is
fairly easy and doesnt take
much of a trek and a search.
Travel bugs are tags you buy
and register online with one
or multiple goal locations.
The owner will be able to
track where it goes.
Nano caches are magnetic
caches with enough room for
a paper scroll and are roughly
the size of a bullet.
HOW I T WORKS
Courtesy: Ged Langosz
Fun activity
A geocache. Once the
hidden box is found, you
can sign your name or add
to the collection of goodies
you can take one too.
OBITUARY
Janaza on Friday, 4
th
April immediately after Asr prayers at 4 pm
at Al Qouz graveyard behind Oasis Centre.
Condolences will be received on Sunday, 6
th
April between 5 -7 pm
at Villa 8, Cluster 46 Jumeirah Island
Wife Shabana Karim, Daughter Sehr Karim Jaffer
Son in law Nadir Jaffer, Sons Salman Karim and Imraan Karim
With deep sorrow and regret
we inform you that
Khalid Rashid Karim
passed away on Wednesday, 2
nd
April.
A great Husband, Father and Friend to all.
He will be sorely missed.
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