85% camels carry MERS: Study

RIYADH: Tests carried out on 112 camels by the Agriculture Ministry have found that 85 percent of the animals carry the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS).

The tests, conducted in conjunction with the Ministry of Health, were taken at the Al-Inam Central Market in Jeddah, according to a report in a local publication on Monday.
This was confirmed by Habed bin Abdulaziz Al-Batshaan, undersecretary for animal resources at the Agriculture Ministry. He said preventative measures must continue to be taken by dealers, with mandatory use of gloves and masks.
He said all those handling the animals must make sure they do not touch their mouths, eyes and noses until they have washed their hands properly.
They also need to make sure the general surroundings are kept clean and remove the waste of the animals into especially earmarked locations. He said handlers must wash their hands and bodies with soap and water after they leave work. The slaughter of animals has to take place in official slaughterhouses under the direct supervision of veterinarians, with special clothes that must be removed before leaving.
Since 2012, at least 551 people have died of the virus in the Kingdom, while 733 who contracted the illness have recovered. There are currently five people who are being treated for the virus, according to the Health Ministry’s website on Tuesday.
Last month, the ministry’s Deputy Health Minister for Public Health Abdulaziz bin Saeed warned that young camels tend to carry the virus in winter and can pass it on to humans.
He said the ministry had conducted a survey on 160 camels in Jeddah and 50 of the juvenile animals were found carrying the virus.
“This is a dangerous situation, where people could easily be affected unless they take suitable precautions,” he said.
He had also announced that the ministry would reveal the results of research into vaccines for MERS. Officials from the ministry and King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology (KAACST) were studying various reports from researchers, he said.