UAE's first swine flu patient discharged

The UAE's first swine flu patient has been discharged from hospital after fully recovering from his symptoms. The man, a Pakistani academic working in Al Ain, reported flu symptoms after flying into the UAE from Canada last week. After testing positive for influenza A, he was immediately put into isolation at Tawam Hospital in Al Ain, where he later tested positive for the H1N1 virus. Dr Ali Ahmed bin Shakar, director general of the Ministry of Health (MoU), told the state news agency, WAM, that the man had fully recovered after spending 10 days in isolation at the hospital. "The relatives of the patient are doing well and do not show any symptoms of swine flu. Hence, it is unlikely they contracted the disease", he added. The man's relatives are likely to be released from quarantine today. Dr bin Shakar said the man's swift reaction to spotting symptoms of influenza ensured the health authorities were able to act quickly to provide him with the correct treatment. He added that no other cases of swine flu had been reported in the UAE since the first case came to light. "No one among those in contact with the patient has shown symptoms of the disease. This means we have successfully contained the spread of the disease." * WAM