Okaz/Saudi Gazette BURAIDAH — The Ministry of Health has announced the death of two Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) patients. A source from Qassim Health Affairs Directorate said the people of Qassim are now afraid to come near King Fahd Specialist Hospital and Buraidah Central Hospital. "The people of Qassim have demanded that the directorate puts in more efforts in containing the epidemic for fear of having an outbreak. During the past 11 days, the number of patients who died due to the virus have reached 10 and the number of infected patients have reached 20 patients," said the source. The source also said the most susceptible patients to contracting the virus are kidney failure patients at Buraidah Central Hospital. "King Fahd Specialist Hospital Renal Diseases Center is still offering dialysis services to patients despite the fear of getting infected with the virus. Patients of kidney failure and other renal diseases have a very weak immune system. A patient of kidney failure had already died after being infected with the virus," said the source. The source added a nurse at the center was also infected with the virus. "The center ran a medical diagnosis on all of the medical staff at the center. The diagnosis revealed that two doctors and two nurses are infected. They were excused from work and asked to stay at home," said the source. The source also said the directorate continues to raise awareness of the virus by participating in festival and public events.
