Indian Student Dies of Suspected Flu in Dubai

A 17-year old Indian student died of suspected flu in a Dubai hospital. She contracted flu a few days before she died on Nov.13 night.

Alia Niyaz Ali, a class 12th student of the Indian High School, attended school until Nov.12. But when she complained about flu-like symptoms, her family admitted her to Rashid Hospital, reported Gulf News.

Her last rites were performed at Al Quoz Cemetery on Nov.14, according to the report.

Alia is the second Indian student of this school to have died of flu in less than 20 days. On Oct.30, a 9-year old girl had died after suffering from flu for over a week.

The Indian High School issued a statement on the sudden demise of Alia, who has been with the school since 2006.

“Her fellow students and teachers will always remember Alia as a bundle of energy and a pleasing personality – compassionate, helpful and highly creative,” Khaleej Times quoted the statement issued by the school.

Talking to the publication, Alia’s brother Aman Ali said, “What started off with her showing simple flu symptoms eventually ended up with her being admitted to the emergency section of the Rashid Hospital. Doctors said the flu virus had caused fluid build-up in her heart and stomach, which led to a drop in blood pressure, eventually leading to her demise.”

He urged people to get vaccinated so that no one else go through the suffering that his sister faced.

“I don’t want anyone to ever go through what my sister went through … People cannot take flu for granted. Get yourself checked. Get yourself vaccinated annually. This is not a disease that gets cured by some over-the-counter medication. My sister never had any health problems. She was physically fit,” Khaleej Times quoted Ali as saying.

Doctors in Dubai have again said that school students should take flu shots, which are safe for children aged over six months.