The Ministry of Agriculture has promised that it would announce shortly the result of tests conducted on 140 camels for the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). The announcement came after a team of veterinarians conducted laboratory tests on camels in farms in Khumra, south of Jeddah. Dr. Ibrahim Ahmed Qassim, director general of the department for animal resources at the ministry, said the ministry has taken stringent measures to prevent a new outbreak of MERS in the city. The statement comes a day after two expatriate workers dealing with camels were tested positive for the virus. However, the two patients have not yet developed MERS symptoms and the Health Ministry did not report their cases. Since 2011 when the virus was first detected in the Kingdom, 1,286 MERS cases have been reported in the country. Among them, 732 patients recovered while 551 died. Three patients are still under treatment. This is in addition to three new suspected cases, where the patients so far did not show any MERS symptoms. "We conducted MERS tests on 20 camels and found 11 of them affected by the virus. On the basis of this result we have closed the camel market. We also announced a medical survey of camels and subjected workers in the market to medical test," Qassim told Okaz/Saudi Gazette. He spoke about measures taken to prevent the spread of the disease among camels and people. "Apart from closing the market, we have decided not to allow new camels to enter the market without tests, ensured cleanliness in all animal enclosures and asked their owners to give an undertaking that they would not take camels to the market except after making sure they are free of the virus," Qassim said. The ministry also launched an awareness campaign about MERS, urging the public to take precautionary measures against contracting its virus. Qassim estimated the total number of camels in the market at more than 400. He added that owners of the beasts cooperate with the ministry to adopt precautionary measures, including the cleaning of enclosures. Authorities take blood samples from potential victims to make sure they are free from the disease. Workers in camel markets have been instructed to wear gloves and clean their hands soon after dealing with the animals. All Saudis and residents, especially those already affected by chronic ailments such as AIDS and renal diseases, should be cautious while dealing with camels, the ministry said. "These patients are likely to contract MERS quickly as their immune system would not be able to withstand the disease and they would not respond to medicines," Qassim said.
