MoH Scotches Rumors of High Incidents of MERS in Hail

MOHAMMED RASOOLDEEN

Published — Monday 28 March 2016
Last update 28 March 2016 12:04 am

RIYADH: The Health Ministry on Sunday scotched rumors about high incidence of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Hail.

“There is absolutely no truth to this,” said an official from the Central Command Center, citing reports from the city, known for its significant grain, date, and fruit production.

According to reports from the center, there was only one case of a 78-year-old man succumbing to MERS on Sunday.

The ministry operates a separate portal for the coronavirus in its website: moh.gov.sa and readers can check the veracity of such news with the help of this online service.

Since June 2012, 1,359 people have tested positive for MERS, 580 died and 764 recovered across the Kingdom. Currently, 15 patients are being treated in various hospitals.

The ministry has been putting in all its efforts to keep the virus under control in the Kingdom. It has designated three major hospitals in Dammam, Riyadh and Jeddah to treat patients.

According to Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC) , MERS is an illness caused by coronavirus. It affects the respiratory system and the symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath.

According to a recent survey, more than 50 percent of Saudis are unaware that the Health Ministry has set up a website on MERS, which publishes health guidelines and statistics of those who have died and been infected.

Of the 19,355 people surveyed, 23.3 percent visited the website regularly, while 26.8 percent said they never visited the site although they were aware of it.

(Source: ArabNews.com)