Bahrain free from cholera, says Health Ministry official

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 hospitals and health centres.

In view of the large number of Bahrainis currently travelling to Iraq, the ministry has set up a comprehensive contingency plan, Dr Mariam said.

She advised travellers in the first place to avoid getting infected with cholera and secondly be very cautious not to carry the disease when they return to Bahrain. All diagnostic equipment and medical supplies are available in the Kingdom, she assured.

The ministry officials met the people in charge of caravansaries 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 caravansaries, 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 publicise 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.