Elaborates on work it is carrying out in collaboration with WHO and CDC

The Dubai Municipality on Day 2 of DIFSC shared its investigation and surveillance procedures during a session titled ‘Food-borne Illnesses: Investigation and Disease Surveillance’, in Al Mutaqa Hall of the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Dr Fatma Al Attar, representing Dubai Municipality, elaborated on a joint programme with World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to strengthen food-borne disease surveillance with the aim of quickly identifying outbreaks.

In her presentation, Dr Al Attar said that the Food Control Department of Dubai Municipality and the Dubai Health Authority had developed guidelines and created an ‘Outbreak Management Team’.

The initiative, she added, included drafting a form for people to complete to assist in identifying outbreaks.

The form, she further added, was available online, as well.

The investigation, Dr Al Attar said, included interviews with handlers, taking measurements and probing suspected foods.

The number of notifications, Dr Al Attar revealed, had increased since the commencement of the programme.