JUNE 25 (Reuters-CCTV) — Saudi Arabia reported 23 new Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus cases in June, less than the same period of last year.
There are now 1,038 MERS patients across the country, according to the Ministry of Health.
Although it is unlikely that the disease will become a pandemic, the ministry asked all medical institutions to stay alert and be prepared to receive and treat MERS patients.
“All medical institutions will conduct preliminary check-up procedures. Patients with respiratory system diseases will receive medical examinations once they arrive at hospitals. Hospitals will isolate patients with suspicious symptoms and take corresponding measures to treat them,” said Hail M. Alabdely, director of Disease Control and Prevention with the Saudi Ministry of Health.
To effectively prevent an epidemic, the Saudi government has urged all medical institutions to strictly follow regulations and report every MERS case immediately.
“The Saudi government took measures to punish those medical and health institutions that violated the country’s regulations and refused to accept or report MERS cases. The government has delivered an explicit message to the public that it takes the disease seriously,” said Alabdely.
The ministry has made posters and videos to increase the public awareness about MERS and to teach them how to prevent it effectively.
Alabdely suggested that to stop the virus from spreading, people should maintain good sanitary habits.
“Now, we have confirmed how this disease is transmitted from person to person. We also know that patients who are severely ill are more likely to transmit the virus to others. The virus is far more contagious in medical institutions and among family members than on streets and in other public places. However, it is unnecessary for the public to panic over the disease,” said Alabdely.
Saudi Arabia, the country which used to be worst-hit by the virus, witnessed a rise in confirmed cases in February and March of this year, due to the changing weather conditions and the breeding season of camel, which are the main suspects of being the source of virus transmission.
