Mass gatherings have long been associated with the spread of infectious diseases. In 1992, two outbreaks of meningococcal disease occurred among residents and Umrah visitors in Mecca and Jeddah.2 In 1997, during the month of Ramadan in the Umrah season, an increase in the number of cases of the disease was noted with over 70% of the cases being religious visitors.2 Pneumococcal disease can also be a serious threat, with individuals who carry S. pneumoniae in their nasal passages, potentially exposing others to the risk of developing the disease through close contact via respiratory droplets that are sneezed, coughed, or exhaled containing S. pneumoniae bacteria.5
RIYADH: Thirty-four new cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome corona virus (MERS-CoV) were reported in the kingdom in the last nine days, including one patient who did not survive, records culled from the Ministry of Health’s daily bulletins show.
JEDDAH — With the announcement by the Health Ministry on Sunday that three new cases of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) were reported in Riyadh, the number of the confirmed cases of the infection has risen to 27 in five days.
UN health experts have recommended cutting the standard dose of yellow fever vaccine by 80% in emergencies, amid a global vaccine shortage.
RIYADH: The Ministry of Health has announced five new cases — four women and one man — of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS), which brings the total number of reported infections during Ramadan to eight.
At least 2,234 Indians have contracted HIV while receiving blood transfusions in hospitals in the past 17 months alone, say officials.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has played down concerns over the spread of the Zika virus, amid calls for the Rio Olympics in August to be postponed.
A global revolution in the use of antimicrobials is needed, according to a government backed report.
RIYADH: A 72-year-old Saudi man on Sunday contracted Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) through an infected camel in Hail.
RIYADH: A 56-year-old Saudi man died of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Buraidah on Friday, bringing the total number of deaths to 591 in the Kingdom since June 2012.
