UAE denies expats will need swine flu medical certificates

The UAE's National Supervisory Committee for Combating Swine Flu has denied reports that expats returning from holidays overseas will require a medical certificate proving they are not infected with the swine flu virus.

''The news about this issue is completely untrue,'' Dr Ali bin Shuker, the director of the Ministry of Health and chairman of the Technical Health Committee for Combating Swine Flu told The National.

''The National Supervisory Committee for Combating Swine Flu, which is chaired by the health minister Dr Hanif Hassan, is committed to standards set out by the World Health Organisation in fighting the H1N1 virus".

Earlier today, it was reported that expats would have to produce a medical certificate when they returned from their vacation abroad to prove they did not carry the H1N1 virus. The move was to be implemented from next month.

Airports, sea ports and land border points were reportedly instructed to quarantine those who showed flu symptoms while entering the country, a source at the National Committee for Combating Swine Flu told Gulf News.

If expats concealed their infection intentionally, employers would have the right to cancel the individual’s work permit, the report had said.