Bahrain free from cholera, reaffirms health ministry official

Manama, Nov. 19 (BNA): The Director of Public Health in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Mariam Al Hajeri, has reaffirmed that the Kingdom of Bahrain is free from any registered or known case of cholera in the hospitals and health cenres. Dr. Mariam Al Hajeri told Bahrain News Agency (BNA) that in view of the large number of Bahrainis currently travelling to Iraq, the ministry has setup a comprehensive contingency plan. She advised travelers in the first place to avoid getting infected with cholera and secondly be cautious not to carry the disease as they come back to Bahrain. All diagnostic equipment and medical supplies are available, she assured. Ministry officials met the people in charge of caravanserais and informed them about their responsibilities and duties regarding implementation of the contingency plan, she said. The ministry does not provide any medical escort staff with the caravanserais which must have their own personnel to administer the necessary first aid and increase people's awareness, she said. The ministry has been in touch with the Jaffariya Awqaf Directorate to increase public awareness and publicize preventative instructions. There is coordination with all land, air and maritime exit/entry points in the Kingdom to block foodstuffs and fluids brought by arrivals from Iraq because polluted foodstuffs and fluids are believed to be the main cause of spreading the disease. she said.