Within the framework of the strenuous efforts carried out by the Ministry of Health (MOH), and its keenness to keep everyone aware of the latest developments of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) on a weekly basis, the Ministry has announced that 8 confirmed MERS-CoV cases were recorded over the period March 22th-28th, 2015 (corresponding to Jumada I 2nd-8th, 1436H). The infected cases (7 males and one female) are amid people aged between 20 and 65 years. They are distributed as follows: 3 cases in Riyadh and one case in each of Jeddah, Makkah, Taif Najran and the Northern Borders Region. Their nationalities are as follows; 3 Saudis, a Yemeni, a Filipino, a Sudanese, a Pakistani and a Bangladeshi.
“Based on the facility, four cases of the virus were recorded at the MOH health facilities, while the other four cases recorded at the private health facilities”, declared the MOH, underlining that the community-acquired cases were recorded in Najran, ‘Arar and Taif. That is to be added to other two cases who were in contact with a confirmed patient at home, and another case still under examination.
Meanwhile, the MOH revealed that rapid response teams tasked with healthcare facilities infection control paid about 16 field visits, including initial and follow-up tours, during the last week. In addition, the Preventive Medicine Teams visited 9 houses and recorded 102 cases in contact with patients, given that they have been placed under follow-up till the end of the virus incubation period.
Regarding the complaints being handled by the Ministry of Agriculture teams (including following up previous cases in direct contact with camels), the Ministry highlighted that there are two complaints reported in Makkah and Taif.
Within the same vein, the MOH underscored that 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 government sectors, international health organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), and consulting firms to follow up all developments regarding Coronavirus.