Saudi MOH Statement On Past Week’s Riyadh MERS Outbreak

 

#10,469

 

Beneath the cryptic case line-listing that appears on the Saudi MOH’s daily MERS update is the promise that `More information on the exposure history will be posted on the weekly update’.  

 

Given the parsimonious nature of these daily reports, additional information would indeed be welcome.

 

While the MOH does indeed post a weekly summary, these recaps rarely shed any light on the promised `exposure history’ of these cases, and instead (as seen below) highlights the MOH’s response and offers general reassurance to the public.
 

 

MOH: ‘34 MERS-CoV Cases Reported Last Week’

31 August 2015

In its weekly press release, the Ministry of Health (MOH) announced that 34 confirmed cases of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) have been reported over the past week, from August 23rd to 29th, 2015, corresponding to Dhul-Qi‘dah 8th to 14th, 1436H (the 35th International Week), including 33 cases in Riyadh, and one case in Najran.

“During the same period, 1.655 samples were tested for Coronavirus at the MOH laboratories across the Kingdom, including 15 cases at the MOH hospitals and 19 other cases at the other health sectors. The number of visits by Rapid Response Teams-IPC was 12, while the total number of visits by public health teams to persons in contact with positive cases was 34,” indicated the Ministry, adding that the number of persons, who were in contact with positive cases at homes was 295, and the number of visits by the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) was one.

Besides, the Ministry announced that 606 cases, out of the total of 1.175confirmed cases, have been cured, at a rate of 1.6%. There are 57 other cases still receiving treatment, and 9 cases have been quarantined at home.

Within the same vein, 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 abide by 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 developments regarding Coronavirus.

Over and above, the Ministry keeps on its efforts and full coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), to launch anti-Coronavirus awareness campaigns at the gathering places of camels to urge camels’ owners and shepherds to be careful and take protective measures when dealing with camels.

Finally, the MOH highlighted that it will remain committed to the preset preparations and cooperative efforts with other parties, including the Saudi community and healthcare staff, who represent the cornerstone in this regard.