Public warned against MERS risks from camels

JEDDAH: Agriculture officials on Sunday urged the public to take precautions when coming in contact with camels as the number of infections from the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) continues to rise.
A Ministry of Agriculture statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said those handling camels should wear masks and gloves to avoid contacting and spreading the coronavirus.
As of May 10, 2014, the MOH said 480 people in the Kingdom have been confirmed to have contacted the virus since it was discovered in 2012. Of the total, 139 people have died.
The ministry issued the advice after scientific studies commissioned by the Health Ministry proved a connection between camels and the virus that causes the MERS, the SPA said.
The ministry advised people not to come into contact with camels unless necessary and to wash hands before and after if they did, as well as wearing face masks.
“It is advisable to wear protective gloves, especially when dealing with births or sick or dead (camels),” it said. It also advised only eating cooked camel meat and to boil camel milk before consuming it.
The statement urged people to report symptoms of MERS in camels immediately.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also advised people at most risk of severe disease to avoid contact with camels.
Health experts say camels are the most likely animal reservoir for the disease.
In its latest bulletin posted on its website, the MOH said the latest six deaths included three from Riyadh — two women aged 26 and 35 and a 22-year-old man — who all died on May 9. A 70-year-old man also died in Jeddah on that same death.
The two other fatalities were a 68-year-old woman and 78-year-old man who both died on May 10 in Madinah.