# 9254
Last week, in Saudi MOH Statement On Recent MERS Cases In Taif, we saw a promise by the Ministry of Health to take action to combat a steady rise in MERS cases reported in Taif, and strong suggestions that at least some of the cases contracted the virus while being treated at a local hospital dialysis center.
Since the beginning of September, at least 35 MERS cases have been reported in Saudi Arabia, with roughly half of them emanating from Taif.
While the Saudi MOH has maintained that this year’s Hajj was `MERS free’, we’ve seen several recent reports of exported cases of MERS around the time of the Hajj, to both Turkey and Austria, and a number of the cases reported from the Mecca/Taif region where pilgrims gathered.
The virus appears to jump sporadically from animals - likely camels (see KSA MOH Reiterates Camel Warnings On MERS) – to humans, and once there, it can spread to other people. Community spread is believed limited, but hospital settings – particularly dialysis units – have been the site of several significant outbreaks.
We’ve just over two years experience with this virus, but there does appear to be a strong seasonal component to transmission – with human infections rising in the winter and peaking in the late spring.
The Saudi MOH today has issued a follow up statement, urging the public, and healthcare facilities, to take steps to prevent exposure and onward transmission of the virus.
«Health» stresses the importance of compliance with preventive measures to limit the spread of (SK)
03 Muharram 1436
Further to the earlier statement issued by the Ministry of health about HIV cases (SK) (Mirs) in Taif, the Ministry wishes to clarify that it is still sporadic cases of HIV infection, which calls for the importance of adherence to preventive measures to curb the spread of the disease, and not mixing with infected camels, as well as emphasize infection control measures in health facilities.
The Ministry has shown that, thankfully, have finished reviewing application and all precautionary measures and preventive measures to curb the spread of HIV infection in health facilities in Taif, where total unit was run at King Faisal Hospital in Taif urgently include (20) laundry Chair to relieve the pressure, absorbing about one-third of patients. Kidney Center was developed by King Abdulaziz hospital, and additional working time, to service beneficiaries continuously.
The procedures also include sampling for all patients in total units of King Abdul Aziz hospital; to ensure their safety and their transmission, with daily monitoring of vital signs for all patients who are having dialysis, as tight measures on patient visits and navigation units.
In addition, the Ministry is supporting Taif Health Affairs Unit of mobile laboratories, and was operated on at the King Faisal Hospital, enabling the results detected virus in record time, and also measures included more training for health workers about ways to prevent infection.
It added that the coordination of all the confirmed cases to the King Faisal Hospital who had been selected as the reference hospital for treatment (SK) in Taif. As adjustments in patients (SK) hospital to ensure the isolation of suspected cases confirmed cases.
The Ministry has shown that restriction (6) recorded cases in Ta'if were of patients undertaking hemodialysis in King Abdul Aziz hospital in Taif, the first of these cases was related to camels in addition to two operational health at King Faisal Hospital, and the rest gained from mixing with camels.
The statement urging all need to respect health guidelines for the prevention of disease, and the need to take preventive measures to reduce infection when dealing with camels and not mixing with the patient ones.
For more information about ways to prevent the disease through the Ministry's website
