#11,203
Although camel-to-human transmission of MERS-CoV makes up only a small percentage of cases, it nonetheless continually re-seeds the virus into the community, and its control is viewed as an important step in halting the virus.
Unfortunately there remains a good deal or resistance in Saudi Arabia to the idea that camels - a beloved symbol of their country - could possibly transmit a disease to humans.
A concept made even harder to accept due to the widespread belief in the healthful effects of camel’s milk and urine in the treatment of disease.
In May of 2014 the Saudi Ministry Of Agriculture Finally Issued Warnings On Camels, urging breeders and owners to limit their contact with camels, and to use PPEs (masks, gloves, protective clothing) when in close contact with their animals.
But compliance with these recommendations has been limited, and so we continue to see sporadic infections attributed to camel exposure, such as today's case from Turaba.
