UAE schools have issued a flu warning to parents after reporting influenza cases across multiple year groups, with an early wave of influenza A infections already circulating as the academic term gets under way.
Circulars sent to families ask parents to keep children at home if they develop symptoms including high fever, cough, sore throat, runny or blocked nose, body aches and fatigue. Some children may also experience vomiting or diarrhoea.
The key return-to-school threshold is clear: children must be fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication such as paracetamol or ibuprofen before they come back to class.
What doctors are seeing in UAE clinics
Dr Bassem Shamseddine, Specialist Pediatrician at Mubadala Health Dubai, said the back-to-school period routinely brings a rise in respiratory infections. ‘The main symptoms of influenza include high fever, often accompanied by nasal congestion, followed by cough and sore throat. Children may also experience fatigue, body aches, headache, and decreased appetite.’
The illness typically lasts 7 to 10 days, though coughing and tiredness can persist beyond that, he said.
An antiviral medication is available for children with confirmed or strongly suspected influenza. Dr Shamseddine said it works best when started early and is particularly worth considering for children with underlying respiratory conditions such as asthma. Parents should raise it with their paediatrician.
Dr Sameh Abdelazim Mohamed, Head of Paediatrics and Consultant Paediatrician at NMC Royal Hospital Abu Dhabi, warned against pulling children out of isolation too soon. ‘The virus can still spread to classmates through respiratory droplets when the child coughs or sneezes, or through direct contact. With influenza, children can continue to shed the virus for several days after the illness begins, often longer than adults, so returning to school too early puts other children at risk.’
The Dubai Health Authority’s Standards for Clinics in Educational and Academic Settings (DHA/HRS/HPSD/ST-22, effective 2 October 2024) sets out communicable disease exclusion policies that govern when symptomatic students should be kept from school in Dubai.
Vaccination timing and the UAE flu warning guidance
Doctors and health authorities agree that vaccination remains the strongest preventive measure. The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) advises that the best time to vaccinate is annually in September or early winter, before the influenza season peaks, but says vaccination is still beneficial if received later.
The Dubai Health Authority’s Seasonal Influenza Awareness Guide sets out a specific schedule for young children: those aged between 6 months and 8 years receiving their first flu vaccine need two doses given four weeks apart, after which one dose annually is sufficient.
In Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre states the seasonal flu vaccine is free of charge and available at healthcare facilities across the emirate.
Dr Jadeer Akkaparambil, Specialist Internal Medicine at Medcare Shaikh Saqr Al Qasimi Hospital, said priority groups for vaccination include young children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and heart or lung disease. Healthcare workers and carers of vulnerable individuals may also be advised to receive it.
MoHAP’s annual national influenza awareness campaign has focused on raising community understanding of vaccination as the most effective preventive method.
Dr Mohamed urged parents to reinforce basic hygiene at home: regular handwashing, covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, keeping sick children away from siblings where possible, and not sharing towels, cups or utensils. Parents should seek medical advice if a child develops a high fever, has difficulty breathing, stops eating or drinking, or appears unusually fatigued.
Schools are asking parents to monitor children closely and to contact their paediatrician promptly rather than waiting for symptoms to worsen before seeking advice.
