UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has warned citizens against travelling to India due to the widespread cases of swine flu (H1N1 influenza) in different regions of that country.

The MoFA also advised citizens currently in India to avoid the affected areas and to stay away from public places where there is likelihood of the disease spreading, said a WAM report.

Rashid Ali Al Dhaheri, director of Citizens’ Affairs at the MoFA, said that the travel warning emanates from the UAE’s keen interest in the safety and well-being of all its citizens travelling abroad, and that it emphasises the importance of its commitment to instructions aimed at protecting their safety.

Al Dhaheri also called on the travelling UAE citizens to be cautious and to call the UAE Embassy in New Delhi on the number +911126111111 or to contact the operations department at the ministry on the number 024449600 in case of need.

He also urged the UAE travelling citizens to enroll in the Tawajudi (my whereabouts) service programme and read the travel advice page on the ministry’s website (www.mofa.gov.ae).