Health - Gulf Insider

1 day ago

Oman introduces mandatory pre- arrival medical checks for Filipino workers

Oman’s Ministry of Labour has announced a mandatory pre-arrival medical examination and visa processing system for workers arriving from the Philippines, with the new measures taking effect on Monday, May 18. The ministry said the system was introduced in coordination with relevant authorities and Oman Post as part of efforts to streamline expatriate recruitment procedures and improve the efficiency and quality of services provided to employers and workers. Under the new rules, recruitment agencies must comply with approved procedures when submitting applications to hire Filipino workers, including completing mandatory medical examination requirements through a designated electronic platform before workers enter Oman. The ministry said operational procedures and guidelines would also be circulated to overseas recruitment agencies in coordination with the Embassy of the Philippines in Oman. Applications for online medical examinations can be submitted through the official Online Medical Examination Application System platform, the ministry said. Authorities said the initiative aims to strengthen regulatory oversight, improve procedural efficiency and facilitate recruitment processes for both employers and expatriate workers. Also Read : Separate Peace? Saudi Arabia Floats Regional Non-Aggression Pact With Iran

6 days ago

Evacuation Of Hantavirus-Hit Ship Begins In Canary Islands

Occupants of a cruise ship struck by a deadly hantavirus outbreak that has sparked international alarm began flying home from Spain’s Canary Islands on Sunday in a complex repatriation operation. Three passengers from the MV Hondius – a Dutch husband and wife and a German woman – have died, while others have fallen sick with the rare disease, which usually spreads among rodents. No vaccines or specific treatments exist for hantavirus, which is endemic in Argentina, where the ship departed in April. But health officials have stressed that the risk for global public health is low and played down comparisons to a repeat of the Covid-19 pandemic. The final flight to evacuate most of the ship’s nearly 150 passengers and crew will leave for Australia on Monday, before the ship continues to the Netherlands, Spanish Health Minister Monica Garcia said. Passengers wearing blue medical suits began disembarking the Dutch-flagged vessel onto smaller boats to reach the port of Granadilla on Tenerife, AFP journalists saw. The evacuees then boarded a red Spanish army bus and travelled to Tenerife South airport in a convoy with Civil Guard vehicles. A protective board separated the driver from the passengers. The evacuees changed into new […]

6 days ago

Saudi Arabia Closely Monitors Hantavirus Cases Linked to Cruise Ship

Saudi Arabia’s Public Health Authority (Weqaya) said it is closely monitoring reports of Hantavirus infections linked to a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean, while stressing that the likelihood of the virus reaching Saudi Arabia remains “very low”. In a statement, the authority said it was coordinating with international health organisations and following developments related to the reported cases. Weqaya said current assessments indicate a low overall threat level due to the Kingdom’s early warning systems, epidemiological surveillance capabilities, border monitoring procedures, and food and environmental health controls. The authority said Hantavirus is a rare viral disease that can become severe in some cases. It explained that the virus is usually transmitted to humans through exposure to infected rodents’ urine, saliva or droppings, or by inhaling contaminated particles. Human-to-human transmission remains uncommon, the authority added, noting that it has only been documented in limited cases involving specific strains of the virus and prolonged close contact. Weqaya said the advisory forms part of wider efforts to raise health awareness among travellers during the busy summer travel season. The authority urged travellers to follow official health guidance, review preventive requirements before travelling, maintain food and water safety, practise personal hygiene, avoid contact with […]

1 week ago

UAE: Dubai Municipality Launches First-Of-Its-Kind Lab To Detect Foodborne Viruses

The Dubai Municipality has inaugurated a pioneering laboratory dedicated to detecting foodborne viruses, marking a significant advancement in the region’s public health infrastructure. Utilizing state-of-the-art biotechnology and molecular biology, the facility focuses on identifying high-risk pathogens such as Norovirus and Hepatitis A within the food supply chain. As the first lab in the region to employ fully automated testing systems, it ensures unprecedented precision while significantly reducing the margin for human error. This strategic development is designed to bolster Dubai’s standing as a global hub for food trade and safety. By integrating rapid testing capabilities, the laboratory accelerates the clearance of food shipments without compromising rigorous safety standards. Additionally, the use of sophisticated genetic sequencing allows authorities to effectively track and mitigate the origins of potential viral outbreaks. Ultimately, this initiative aligns with Dubai’s broader vision of leveraging AI-driven monitoring and world-class infrastructure to ensure the emirate remains one of the safest cities in the world.

3 weeks ago

UAE: Dubai Healthcare City Breaks Ground On New Dh1.3 Billion Healthcare Projects

Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA) has started construction on two major developments, PIXEL DHCC and IBN SINA+, as part of its wider Dh1.3 billion expansion plan. The projects mark the first phase of a long-term programme aimed at strengthening Dubai Healthcare City as a global centre for healthcare investment and services. Both developments are expected to be completed by November 2027. The announcement was made during a ceremony attended by senior officials, including DHCA chief executive Issam Galadari and representatives from partner design and engineering firms. Focus on growth and global investment Galadari said the new projects are an important step in delivering the authority’s expansion plan. He said the developments will provide modern and sustainable facilities that support a fully integrated healthcare environment. This, he added, will help attract more international investment and support Dubai’s wider economic goals. He also said the projects align with the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 strategy and the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to strengthen the emirate’s global standing. PIXEL DHCC: A modern office space PIXEL DHCC will be a nine-storey office building designed to meet high environmental standards, including LEED Platinum certification. Covering around 13,000 square metres, the building will include flexible […]

3 weeks ago

Breakthrough To Restore Aging Joints Could Help Treat Osteoarthritis

A study in mice traced the loss of cartilage that accompanies aging to a single protein, pointing to treatments that may one day restore mobility and ease discomfort in seniors. The protein, called 15-PGDH, has been extensively linked to aging. It becomes more abundant as we get older and interferes with the molecules that repair tissue and reduce inflammation. That led researchers at Stanford University to consider whether 15-PGDH might be involved in osteoarthritis, in which joint stress leads to the breakdown of cartilage collagen, causing inflammation and pain. In tests on old mice, knee cartilage that had previously worn down thickened following the introduction of a 15-PGDH inhibitor. In similar tests on young, injured mice, the inhibitor protected against the typical effects of injury-induced osteoarthritis. When the researchers induced the equivalent of an anterior cruciate ligament injury in mice and subsequently applied the treatment, osteoarthritis didn’t develop as would normally be expected. Previous attempts at cartilage regeneration included the use of stem cells, which were no longer necessary when 15-PGDH was inhibited. Instead, chondrocytes that make and maintain cartilage were being transformed into a healthier, more functional state. “This is a new way of regenerating adult tissue, and it […]

3 weeks ago

Euthanasia Is Now 6% Of All Deaths In The Netherlands

Euthanasia is now responsible for 6 percent of all deaths in the Netherlands, and this figure is increasing every year. According to a report by the regional euthanasia review committee (RTE), cited by the news portal Hirado, 10,341 people died by euthanasia in 2025, and while three-quarters of the applicants were over 70 years old, one case involved someone between the age of 12 and 18. The number of those choosing to die by euthanasia due to mental illnesses decreased by almost a fifth (174 cases), but more than 85 percent suffered from physical diseases such as cancer, nervous system disorders, and lung or cardiovascular diseases. There were 499 cases of euthanasia performed on patients with dementia, and the RTE investigated 11 cases where the patient was no longer competent. In addition, 475 cases involved the co-existence of multiple age-related illnesses, and 278 cases involved “other reasons.” Pro-life advocates have argued that these “other reasons” often include selfish human interests, such as family members pressuring or emotionally manipulating an older relative to go through with euthanasia in order to obtain inheritance faster. In these cases, euthanasia is often carried out even when, according to supporters, it could not be justified. Another […]

4 weeks ago

Ditch The Sanitizer And Exercise Your Immune System

Bugs, viruses, and sickness—these maladies creep into countless conversations as people wrestle with the question: How do I strengthen my immune system? The overriding answer from the conventional pharmaceutical and vaccine industry is that functional wellness comes from a pill, a needle, or some kind of medical treatment. As a farmer with thousands of animals and no vet bills, I can attest that the overriding conventional notion in the livestock industry is that a sick animal is apparently pharmaceutically disadvantaged. I have a completely opposite paradigm: A sick animal testifies to my own mistakes. Maybe I chose weak seedstock. Over many decades of livestock farming, I’ve had half a dozen economically significant sickness outbreaks across various species. Every single time, the problem was my fault. Hygiene, diet, stress, discomfort, and toxins. An animal can get sick for many reasons, none of which is because it was medically deprived. That brings me to people. In his iconic New York Times bestseller “Guns, Germs, and Steel,” Jared Diamond explains the ascendancy of cultures that lived proximate to domestic livestock. People groups who cultivated close relationships with domestic farm animals developed better immune systems. Many years ago, British epidemiologist David Strachan observed that […]

4 weeks ago

Is Oman Requiring HIV Tests For Filipino Travellers? What You Need To Know

The Philippine Embassy in Oman has issued a clarification in response to circulating online reports suggesting that Filipino nationals travelling to Oman may be required to undergo HIV testing prior to departure. The embassy has noted that it has been receiving a number of inquiries from members of the Filipino community who are concerned about the alleged requirement and are seeking official confirmation. The issue have gained attention through social media posts and informal online discussions, leading to confusion among travellers planning trips to Oman. In response, the diplomatic mission has moved to address the matter directly to prevent misinformation from spreading further. No official confirmation In an official advisory, the embassy has stressed that, as of now, there is no verified or confirmed directive from Omani authorities requiring HIV testing for Filipino travellers entering the country. “Please be informed that the embassy is yet to receive information from the Omani authorities confirming this requirement,” read the statement. Based on current available information, no such mandatory health screening policy has been officially implemented that would support the claims circulating online. Check with airlines With the absence of confirmation, the embassy has advised caution and encouraged travellers to remain vigilant. Filipinos […]

1 month ago

Fauci Deputy Who Refused COVID-19 Vaccine Feared Retaliation: Emails

A top government doctor who declined to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in 2021 was worried he would lose his job and medical license in retaliation, according to newly obtained emails. “There were times when I was worried about losing my job especially when we first started receiving emails about [vaccine] mandate deadlines,” Dr. Matthew Memoli, who led the Laboratory of Infectious Diseases clinical studies unit at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) during the COVID-19 pandemic, said in one missive to a NIAID spokesman. He added later that he was more concerned about losing his medical license because he was aware there were “protections for government employees.” “Washington, DC directly threatened to take away my medical license which would have threatened my job (I need a medical license) so I applied for a Virginia license and protected myself that way,” Memoli also wrote in the email, sent on Jan. 17, 2024, and obtained by The Epoch Times through a Freedom of Information Act request. After President Donald Trump took office in 2025, Memoli was made acting director of NIAID’s parent agency, the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He has been the NIH’s principal deputy director since March […]

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Oman introduces mandatory pre- arrival medical checks for Filipino workers

Evacuation Of Hantavirus-Hit Ship Begins In Canary Islands

Saudi Arabia Closely Monitors Hantavirus Cases Linked to Cruise Ship

UAE: Dubai Municipality Launches First-Of-Its-Kind Lab To Detect Foodborne Viruses

UAE: Dubai Healthcare City Breaks Ground On New Dh1.3 Billion Healthcare Projects

Breakthrough To Restore Aging Joints Could Help Treat Osteoarthritis

Euthanasia Is Now 6% Of All Deaths In The Netherlands

Ditch The Sanitizer And Exercise Your Immune System

Is Oman Requiring HIV Tests For Filipino Travellers? What You Need To Know

Fauci Deputy Who Refused COVID-19 Vaccine Feared Retaliation: Emails

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Watch: Trump Spars With ‘Treasonous’ NYT Reporter On Iran War Coverage

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