The Ministry of Health (MOH) has reassured citizens and residents that Coronavirus does not pose danger, and does not cause concern and panic. Thus far viral transmission from one person to another has not been proven. It also affirmed that the cases infected with the virus throughout the world are regarded as individual cases, and do not go beyond three cases. The Ministry expected that the next winter season would not witness reporting any new cases, infected with the virus, Allah willing.
Meanwhile, the Undersecretary of Public Health, and the Head of National Scientific Committee for Infectious Diseases, Dr. Ziad Memish pointed out, yesterday at a press conference in the MOH Headquarters, that the Kingdom works in close coordination with the international health authorities and the World Health Organization (WHO), in order to follow up the latest developments on all the viruses, emerging at the health arena. He went on adding that the Ministry of Health had a national committee, made up of a constellation of specialized consultants, representing all the health sectors. It is to closely follow up all the developments and latest all over the world and the Kingdom; in order to take the preventive measures with the aim of protecting citizens and residents.
Dr. Memish further pointed out that through studying the reported cases, the Committee realized that the virus is one of the new strains, and does not pose great danger. In addition, an agreement has been reached with the treating medical staff, to the effect that in the event that there is a suspected case, they should communicate with the ministry at once, and apply the scientific, medical, and professional procedures recognized worldwide. He also drew attention to the fact that most of those infected with the virus recover, Allah wiling, after being given the supportive medicine, appropriate for these cases, just like the viruses causing the respiratory infections such as the seasonal flu and others.
Besides, Dr. Memish confirmed that the Kingdom has cumulative expertise and qualified and specialized human capabilities within the different health sectors and advanced laboratories. This helps discover the infected cases at earlier stages, which in turn facilitates its handling and treating. He also pointed out that the Ministry keeps following up the latest on the virus in coordination with the international and regional medical organizations and authorities.
For his part, Dr. Ali bin Mansour Al-Barak, member of the National Scientific Committee for Infectious Diseases, stated that the most prominent symptoms are summed up as clinically-confirmed pneumonia and with X-ray as well, having temperature as higher as 38 degrees, sore throat, and cough; along with making sure that there are no other causes such as chronic diseases. He also pointed out that these symptoms were circulated by the Committee to all the Kingdom's hospitals, in order to recognize the infected cases in an easy and scientific way.
On the other hand, infectious diseases consultant at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Dr. Fahad Al-Rabeeah stated that the Scientific Committee is not concerned about the spread of the virus or the increase of cases. In addition, the case that has been reported is for a Saudi citizen living in Riyadh, and he did not move outside Riyadh. And it has not proven that the virus can be transmitted to others.
Within the same vein, Dr. Sami bin Hussein Hagar, member of the Committee and consultant at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, made clear that no cases have been reported among children, adding that the virus symptoms are similar to the flu symptoms, and there is no traditional medicine for it; only supportive medicine is given.
He went on adding that currently, there is no plenty of information on the virus because of its limited spread, making clear that the Committee is working on gathering the information and recording it through the discovered cases; in order to identify ways of diagnosis.