In its weekly press release, the Ministry of Health (MOH) reported eleven confirmed cases of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Taif and Hofuf, over the period from May 24th to 30th, 2015, corresponding to Shaaban 6th to 12th, 1436H (the 22nd International Week).
The MOH highlighted that despite the reduction in the number of cases compared to the same period in the last year (13 cases), it will continue to take strict measures, and exert cooperative efforts with other parties, including the Saudi community and healthcare staff, who are the cornerstone in this regard.
"During the same period," the ministry said, "1,048 samples were tested for MERS-CoV at the MOH laboratories across the Kingdom. The number of visits by public health teams to persons in contact with positive cases was eleven, while the number of those in contact with positive cases at homes was seventy, and the number of visits conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture was one."
Within the same vein, the MOH announced that 561 cases (out of 1,014 confirmed cases) have been cured, at a rate of 55.3%.
Moreover, the Command and Control Center (CCC) keeps on its efforts around the clock by carrying out epidemiological surveillance tasks, making sure that all governmental and private health facilities are applying infection control measures as well as coordinating with the relevant governmental sectors, international health organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), and think-tanks to follow up all MERS-CoV-related developments.
Over and above, the Ministry keeps on its efforts and full coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) to launch anti-Coronavirus awareness campaigns in the gathering places of camels to urge camels’ owners and shepherds to be careful and stick to ways of protection when dealing with camels.