5,879 expats deported for infectious diseases in last two years

A total of 5,879 expatriates have been deported since 2016 because of infectious diseases.

Health Minister Sheikh Dr Basel Al-Sabah explained that the deported cases included 576 infected with AIDS, 244 with malaria, 2,068 infected with tuberculosis and 2,991 with hepatitis. He said only two cases were exempted from the health conditions set by the Cabinet’s resolution number 403/2004 pertaining exempting expat spouses and children of Kuwaiti citizens infected with hepatitis.

Sheikh Basel said the deported people are reexamined at the health office in their countries and in case the reexamination results are negative, the health ministry’s undersecretary is contacted to lift the ban and allow the deportee back into Kuwait to redo all tests.