90% of Gulf camels ‘MERS-infected’

About 90 percent of camels in the Gulf region are carriers of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), which requires the urgent need for a vaccine, according to a leading Health Ministry official. In addition, the virus can be transmitted over a 1-meter distance, Abdullah Asiri, undersecretary for preventative health at the ministry, was quoted as saying in a local publication on Tuesday. Asiri said that 50 percent of camels in Al-Ahsa region carry the virus. A person who comes into contact with infected camels can transmit the virus to family members without showing symptoms of the disease, he said. He said mass extermination of these camels was not an acceptable solution, so research should be accelerated to develop a vaccine. Younger camels are most able to transmit the disease to humans. Most viruses come from animals, mutate on their own, and are then transmitted to humans, he said. He said the ministry’s directive to health professionals is that they should consider patients to have MERS if they have respiratory symptoms consistent with being infected with the virus. This is until laboratory results prove otherwise. Tests normally take between 6 and 8 hours, during which a patient with a respiratory infection must be isolated within the hospital in a sterile environment and with no access to visitors. The rapid transmission of the disease over the past year was mainly due to contact with infected patients within health facilities, especially in emergency departments, Asiri said. Patients have been advised not to visit health facilities for minor ailments, or cases of the ordinary flu, but should only seek treatment if they suspect being infected by MERS after contact with animals. Members of the public should visit primary health care centers because they are fully equipped to handle such cases. He urged people to avoid contact with animals especially camels. If they must make contact, then they should wear masks and gloves, and refrain from rubbing their eyes or noses after touching them. -arabnews