Tag Archives: lifestyle
Mers claims first victim in the UAE, confirms WHO
Mers claims first victim in the UAE, confirms WHO Staff Reporter / 31 August 2013 The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed the recent death of an 82-year-old Emirati man suffering from the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (Mers-CoV). The news of the latest UAE death follows the confirmation on Wednesday of a further eight Mers cases in Saudi Arabia, of which one person died on Friday. It is the first locally confirmed death and the patient did not have any travel history, said the WHO. The man was brought to a hospital in Abu Dhabi in July, which led to the isolation of at least four health workers who attended the patient, after fears they had contracted the virus. Two had mild symptoms, while a further two were asymptomatic. No reports have been issued on their current health condition. To date, the UAE has reported six cases and two deaths including the recent one. In March, a 73-year-old Abu Dhabi man died in a German hospital from the Sars-like virus. In Saudi Arabia, which is at the centre of the outbreak, the death toll has already touched 43. Of the eight new reported cases, three women and two men are still alive. All but one of the eight have or had underlying medical conditions. Meanwhile, on Thursday the WHO announced two other cases of Mers were confirmed in Qatar. Both patients are men and had underlying medical conditions. Globally, from September 2012 to date, WHO has been informed of a total of 104 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with Mers-CoV including 49 deaths. Based on the current situation and available information, the WHO has advised health care providers to maintain vigilance. However, no travel ban has been recommended by the world health body as yet. Last month Khaleej Times reported that unified local and national guidelines on how to deal with the suspected cases were being readied by the country’s health bodies. In Abu Dhabi, all healthcare providers have been briefed on the necessary notification and reporting mechanisms of any suspected coronavirus cases. That includes clinical assessment, isolation and collection of specimens for laboratory tests. The identified symptoms of Mers include fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath and muscle pain, gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhoea and vomiting. These symptoms are aggravated if the patient has any other underlying medical condition. Recent medical research has shown Mers links to both camels and bats, though investigations are ongoing. The WHO has recommended people to avoid contact with sick animals. asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
Oil slick after diesel tanker overturns
Oil slick after diesel tanker overturns Ahmed Shaaban / 31 August 2013 An Asian man sustained several injuries after the diesel tanker he was driving overturned, spilling its contents, in Ras Al Khaimah on Thursday night. According to a senior police officer, the traffic accident, the second in a month, damaged part of the concrete median of the Etihad bridge where the tanker overturned. Lt-Col Ahmed Al Samm Al Naqbi, Acting Director of the RAK Traffic and Patrols Department, said the tanker driver was to be blamed for the mishap as he was the one who lost control over the steering wheel and crashed into the concrete median. “He veered off the road, ran into and broke part of the concrete median of the bridge, and overturned on the left side.” The Central Operations Room of the RAK Police, on being alerted about the accident, dispatched the police, traffic patrols, and rescue teams to the scene. “The rescue team safely pulled out the injured driver who was stuck in the damaged tanker, and shifted him to the hospital for treatment and medical care.” Lt-Col Al Naqbi said all the diesel that the tanker was carrying spilled on to the road, covering a wide area. “The concerned authorities, in collaboration with the RAK Civil Defence department, swiftly swung in action and cleaned the road, ensuring a smooth flow of traffic.” The authorities closed the road under the bridge after the accident and shifted the tanker hanging up from the middle on the bridge wall. Al Naqbi urged all motorists and truck drivers to be more cautious and attentive on the road and abide by the set rules and regulations. “Heavy truck drivers are advised to take enough rest when they feel tired, sleepy or unwell so as not to put their lives or the lives of other road users in danger.” Earlier this month, a collision between a water tanker and pick-up truck, had damaged a 55-metre-long concrete part of the Etihad Bridge, in the direction of Al Faisal Road. The pick-up driver, a 75-year-old Emirati man, received several injuries due to the accident. Director-General of Central Operations at the RAK Police Brigadier Ghanem Ahmed Ghanem, said the 33-year old driver of the water tanker, also received minor injuries and was to blame for the accident. A tougher unified traffic law with higher fines and a black points system was implemented in 2008 all over the country, in order to encourage safer driving, especially amid the high incidence of traffic accidents involving heavy duty vehicles. ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
GCC may face gas shortage by 2015 on strong demand
GCC may face gas shortage by 2015 on strong demand Staff Report / 31 August 2013 Gas shortage in the GCC will become more pronounced by 2015 as demand stays strong and supply struggles to keep pace, according to a recent report released by global consultancy firm Booz & Company, The second Power + Water Leader’s Forum will be held on September 23. — Supplied photo The report, entitled “Gas shortage in the GCC — how to bridge the gap”, suggests that increasing power consumption, depleting oil fields, gas exploration and long term gas export commitments have limited the local supply of gas in the region. The report further adds that GCC countries can address the supply demand imbalance by raising local gas prices gradually, improving energy efficiency and investing in alternative methods to overcome the shortage. In an effort to bring the gas sector back on track, Robin Mills, head of consulting at Manaar Energy, will outline recent developments in the GCC gas and power sector and discuss the regional gas supply outlook and its impact on prices at the second Power + Water Leader’s Forum. Taking place on September 23 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, the dedicated conference runs alongside the Power + Water Middle East exhibition, which takes place from September 23 to 25, and will provide an ideal platform for experts to discuss sustainable best practices and innovative solutions across two of the region’s bourgeoning sectors. “The GCC’s gas shortage can be resolved,” said Mills. “But timing is crucial and waiting for solutions to materialise might mean that GCC states will have to burn more valuable liquid fuels to meet demand.” “Governments need a mix of short- and long-term measures to address the gas shortage. They need to invest in new developments to increase production, increase local gas prices steadily to encourage efficiency, and expand the use of alternative sources in the energy mix. Gas-sector investment is expanding rapidly across the GCC. Some of the most interesting projects include the Khazzan tight gas project in Oman, the Bab and Shah sour gas projects in Abu Dhabi and the Emirates LNG import terminal in Fujairah.” Anita Mathews, director of Informa Energy Group, organisers of Power + Water Middle East, said that an alternative energy source now making strides in the region is nuclear. According to research reports, UAE has set an ambitious target of generating one-quarter of its power from nuclear sources over the next 15 to 20 years. To reach this target, Abu Dhabi plans to construct at least six nuclear plants at a cost of more than $5 billion each. Held in strategic partnership with the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority, Power + Water Middle East is supported by the Society of Engineers — UAE and Confederation of Indian Industry, which will be organising a government supported national pavilion at the event. business@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
