Sharjah/Dubai: The start of the academic year has seen only a handful of suspected and reported cases of the H1N1 virus on campuses across the country but institutions remain vigilant.

The University of Sharjah has had three suspected cases. "We currently have one professor and two female students placed in isolation," Dr Mohammad Abdul Moneam, medical services director, said.

The patients are suspected to have contracted the virus while on holiday in Canada, Yemen and Saudi Arabia, he said.

At the American University of Sharjah a student with H1N1 flu symptoms came forward to the authorities, said chancellor Dr Peter Heath. The student has been placed in quarantine and will later return to his home country, Saudi Arabia. "[Although in quarantine] he exhibited no symptoms and was not sick at all."


Dubai Women's College, Manipal University Dubai, Heriot-Watt University Dubai Campus and BITS Pilani, Dubai, has had no reported cases of H1N1 during the first week of class. However, officials remain cautious and are on the alert for updates from the Ministry of Health and the Dubai Health Authority.