11 MERS cases in Jeddah, but ‘don’t worry’: Officials
JEDDAH – Despite claiming that 11 new Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) cases have been detected in the city, the Jeddah Health Affairs on Tuesday sought to reassure the public saying that there was “nothing to worry.”
Amidst panic, Makkah Emir Prince Mishal Bin Abdullah has directed to take adequate preventive and precautionary measures at all hospitals and health clinics in the governorate.
Prince Mishal also underlined the need for taking all health arrangements to ensure safety of both citizens and expatriates.
The emir was speaking after being briefed on the latest situation with regard to the virus by Dr. Abdul Salam Noor Wali, director general of health affairs in Makkah region.
Noor Wali said 11 new MERS cases have been reported in Jeddah. Out of this, two persons, including a Saudi male nurse, died. Bandar Al-Kuthairy, who worked for King Abdulaziz Hospital in south Jeddah, contracted the virus just two days after getting married, and subsequently he died on Saturday.
The Health Affairs maintained that that there was complete coordination between all the concerned sectors to contain the disease and this is through continuous follow up of Makkah Emir, Jeddah Governor Prince Mishal Bin Majed, and Minister of Health Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah.
“All the arrangements are well in place to promptly attend any suspected MERS cases in the hospitals and prevent spreading of the virus,” Noor Wali said.
An X-ray specialist at King Fahd Hospital, meanwhile, acknowledged that the first cases started to appear in the hospital’s new building. She spoke to Saudi Gazette on condition of anonymity.
The source said emergency wards in both new and old buildings wore a deserted look on Tuesday because of the MERS scare. The hospital, she said, has permanently stopped receiving new patients. It has also started discharging patients whose condition showed some stability.
Three of the X-ray specialists, two doctors and two security officials have been tested for coronavirus. The X-ray specialist told Saudi Gazette that no cases with viruses shall be transferred from one hospital to another especially when it comes to epidemic diseases.
A nurse at King Abdulaziz University hospital said the institution was operating normally. The hospital’s ER is not receiving many patients and those coming there have been given face masks, she said.
“The maintenance staff were asked not to report to work today since they stay at King Fahd Hospital’s dormitory. Since the virus spread from KFH, there are every chances that the staff may also be affected,” she explained.
The nurse criticized the shortage of masks and other protection measures at hospitals in general. “Since there are number of viruses that share the same symptoms it makes it difficult for doctors to identify coronavirus at early stage,” she said.
Meanwhile, the spokesman of KAU Hospital, Shiraa Al-Bugami, denied that they have any coronavirus case in their medical team and denied that the hospital’s ER has been closed. He added that they have received five suspicious cases that have been transferred by the Ministry of Health. The cases are now undergoing the necessary lab tests and are receiving the medical care at the quarantine sections.
Fatima Muhammad - Saudi Gazette
