In its weekly press release, the Ministry of Health (MOH) reported twelve confirmed cases of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Hofuf, Taif, Riyadh, Jeddah and Al-Qunfudah over the period from May 10th to 16th, 2015, corresponding to Rajab 21st to 27th, 1436H (the 20th International Week).
The MOH highlighted that despite the significant reduction in the number of cases compared to the same period in the last year, the number of cases has increased compared to the previous week. As a result, the Ministry 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, it is noteworthy, 1,380 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 twelve, and the number of visits by the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) was two. In the same time, the Ministry continued its efforts with a view to spreading health awareness among the society members through the anti-Coronavirus campaign dubbed, “We Can Stop It”.
Within the same vein, the MOH announced that 552 cases (out of 999 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 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.