“Residency” tests reveal 924 cases of syphilis within 5 months

The Dubai Health Authority recorded 924 cases of syphilis, since the implementation of the new medical fitness tests in November, until last March.

Director of Medical Fitness at the Authority, Maysaa Al-Bustani, told “Emirates Al-Youm” that “a person coming to reside in the country, if it is found that he is infected with syphilis, will not obtain a certificate of being free of communicable diseases until after he recovers from the disease,” noting that “the infected person is not detained in quarantine.” However, he is subject to treatment by the Authority, and whoever does not adhere to the treatment sessions will be removed from the state.”

She stated that “the cases recorded during the five months, 674 of them are still in the stage of receiving treatment,” noting that “the authority provides treatment to the infected for free.”

In detail, Al-Bustani reported that “the Authority’s Medical Fitness Center has been implementing new tests since last November, decided by the Council of Ministers, to ensure that those coming to reside in the country are free of syphilis,” explaining that it is a disease that is detected by examining blood samples.

She pointed out that “those who are found to be infected with the disease may face a deportation decision if they do not adhere to treatment,” explaining that “the Council of Ministers’ decision considered syphilis among the diseases that prevent obtaining residency if the patient is not treated for it,” indicating that “the Health Authority summons all… Whoever proves that he is suffering from the disease, treatment will be provided to him in a private clinic at the Medical Fitness Center located in the Al Muhaisnah 2 area in Dubai.”

She pointed out that “the injured people’s condition is monitored by the clinic and the necessary treatment, consultation and medical follow-up are provided to them until they recover,” noting that “the treatment period may reach a year.”

Al-Bustani stated that “treatment takes place only in the Health Authority clinic, and whoever does not adhere to the treatment sessions is issued a medically unfit certificate, and the Department of Naturalization and Residence is notified in his name, to take measures to remove him as he is suffering from a contagious disease,” adding that “in some cases his sponsorship is canceled by the The sponsor, as soon as he learns of the injury of his sponsored person.

She pointed out that “the application of the new examination, starting from last November, and until last March, confirmed that 924 people were infected with the disease, and they requested to obtain a medical fitness certificate, in order to obtain state residency.” She continued, “The highest infection rate recorded was last March, with 240 infected people, including 192 males, and 177 infections in the previous month,” noting that “those infected in the months of November and December completely recovered from the disease and obtained residency,” noting that “all of They were confirmed to be infected with the disease, committed themselves to receiving treatment, and none of them has failed so far.” In addition, Al-Bustani said, “TB patients who are discovered to be infected with the disease and request residency in the country are detained in quarantine by the Health Authority, treated, and returned to their countries after recovery.” She pointed out that “AIDS patients are detained immediately, and no quarantine measures are taken against hepatitis patients, but sponsors are informed to take measures to return them to their countries.”

She stated that “in the event of renewing residency, the hepatitis test is limited to categories of servants and workers in restaurants, barber shops, nannies, and health clubs,” noting that “this examination is conducted for other categories when requesting residency for the first time, and is not conducted when renewing residency.”

She explained that the Council of Ministers issued a decision last year to organize the medical examination for those arriving to the country for work and residence.

The decision requires “an examination for infectious diseases, and the person is free of them in order to obtain residency. Among these diseases is AIDS, for which the decision stipulates that an initial and confirmatory examination be conducted for positive cases.”

It also includes chest diseases, especially tuberculosis, in addition to “conducting an initial examination for syphilis, and another confirmatory examination for positive cases.” The decision limited the new medical examination procedure to preventive medicine centers affiliated with the Ministry of Health, government health authorities in the country, and other entities designated by a decision from the Minister of Health.

Al-Bustani considered that “the Council of Ministers’ decision protected the state from the entry of a large number of patients to reside there.”

“Syphilis”

Syphilis is a dangerous contagious disease that is transmitted from one person to another through sexual contact, or from a mother to her fetus, and is caused by bacteria. The infection is transmitted through contact with the blood or sores of a person sick with syphilis, especially those found in the mouth, penis, vagina, or anus. If syphilis is not treated at an early stage, the bacteria will spread in the blood, and once the bacteria reach the blood, the infected person will be exposed to many risks. The most common symptom is a rash, which appears in the form of ulcers after about two weeks to two months and occurs on the palms of the hands and heels of the feet. Other symptoms of syphilis include fever, high temperature, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes. After several years have passed, a person sick with syphilis who does not receive treatment will develop symptoms in the brain or spine, and syphilis may cause atrophy in the heart muscle and some other organs as well.