45% Janadriyah Camel Samples MERS Positive

ARABNEWS

RIYADH: Lab tests by the Ministry of Agriculture showed that 45 percent of camel samples taken from Al-Janadriyah market are infected with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV).

This was announced after the Ministry of Health revealed that the first case of coronavirus in humans was a person caring for camels.

The undersecretary for livestock in the Ministry of Agriculture, Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al-Batshan, confirmed these findings in a statement to Sabq recently.

Al-Batshan said that veterinary teams are now implementing all necessary procedures in coordination with relevant government bodies including the Health Department and Riyadh municipality to find out the specific sources of infection and to carry out the correct preventative activities to stop the spread of the disease.

The official stressed the importance of avoiding the direct handling of live animals if possible, and cautioned people to wear a mask and protective gloves while dealing with them. Those who frequent live stock markets should avoid touching their mouths or noses until after they wash their hands properly.

He also recommended that the public remain committed to public and personal hygiene as well as protecting the environment in terms of pollution and the disposal of dead animals and their waste in a hygienic way.

Additionally, he cautioned that all animals should be killed in official slaughterhouses that are under veterinarian supervision, with special clothes to be used inside all stables.

(Source: ArabNews.com)