WHO official coming to assess MERS outbreak

JEDDAH: An expert from the World Health Organization (WHO) will arrive in Riyadh next week to assess the latest spike in infections and deaths from the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV).
This is according to Izz Al-Din Muhseini, the Kingdom’s WHO representative, who also issued assurances that the Ministry of Health has made every effort to contain the virus inside the National Guard Hospital in Riyadh, the health facility at the center of the surge in cases over the past week.
The WHO expert would evaluate the measures taken by the ministry, and participate in meetings held by ministry officials, Muhseini was quoted as saying by a local publication on Friday.
Muhseini said the ministry is dealing with the WHO in a transparent manner, which should see a fall in MERS cases. He said the virus, like any other, must be countered with preventive measures.
He urged the public to follow the health guidelines issued by the ministry, which includes avoiding infected camels. He said breeders must boil camel milk properly before consumption.
Muhseini said the Health Ministry has been able to contain the MERS virus, and the latest infections and deaths were isolated cases. The concern now is to ensure the virus does not spread in health facilities, which would place patients and older people with respiratory problems at risk.
He said ministry officials have been taking “strict” measures inside hospitals to curb the virus, including providing specific training for health professionals.