SAUDI ARABIA: Twenty new cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) confirmed, adding up to 49 infections in five days

Record ID: 189377

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA: Twenty new cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) confirmed, adding up to 49 infections in five days
  • Date: 20th April 2014
  • Summary: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (APRIL 20 ,2014) (REUTERS ) SAUDI MINISTER OF HEALTH SEATED AT NEWS CONFERENCE HALL MEMBERS OF SAUDI NATIONAL COMMISSION SEATED AT THE NEWS CONFERENCE. REPORTER TYPING ON LAPTOP (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DR. ABDULLAH BIN ABDULAZIZ AL-RABIAH, SAUDI MINISTER OF HEALTH SAYING: "I can assure you that there wasn't any case registered at schools, this is a positive indication. There shouldn't be any concerns at schools. The medical situation of the infected medical crews has started to decrease and the percentage of deaths is also becoming less." NEWS CONFERENCE ONGOING DR.AL RABIAH THANKING REPORTERS AND LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) DR ABDULLAH BIN ABDULAZIZ AL-RABIAH, SAUDI MINISTER OF HEALTH, SAYING: "We have invited the five leading companies known to scientists in vaccination industry. We have sent them letters to invite them to collaborate with the Ministry of Health. They have answered us and we know some of them are going to visit us soon." PHOTOGRAPHERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) DR ABDULLAH BIN ABDULAZIZ AL-RABIAH, SAUDI MINISTER OF HEALTH, SAYING: "We will ensure that any copyrights will ensure that this will bring those vaccinations or therapeutic measures which at a cost that is affordable by countries." PHOTOGRAPHER .(SOUNDBITE) (English) DR ABDULLAH BIN ABDULAZIZ AL-RABIAH, SAUDI MINISTER OF HEALTH, SAYING: "Hopefully we will reach to an idea to why the surge is in April and May. Could it be that this season is the best for the virus? I have no idea." VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF SAUDI MINISTRY OF HEALTH HEADQUARTERS
  • Embargoed: 5th May 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Saudi Arabia
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: Health
  • Reuters ID: LVA1YANT6PHM8VAUQFD32BSGKVC0
  • Story Text: Saudi Arabia confirmed 20 new cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) on Saturday (April 19) and Sunday (April 20), adding up to 49 infections in six days, a sudden increase of a disease that kills about a third of the people infected and has no cure.
    MERS, a SARS-like novel coronavirus that emerged in Saudi Arabia two years ago, has infected 244 people in the kingdom, of whom 76 have died, the Health Ministry said on its website.
    However, Health Minister Abdullah al-Rabia on Sunday told reporters there was no scientific evidence yet to justify ordering additional preventative measures such as travel restrictions.
    He said he did not know why there was a surge of cases in Jeddah.

    "Hopefully we will reach to an idea to why the surge is in April and May. Could it be that this season is the best for the virus? I have no idea," he said.
    Another cluster of cases has been detected in the United Arab Emirates and a Malaysian who was recently in the Gulf has been confirmed as infected, his country said.
    MERS has no vaccine or anti-viral treatment, but international and Saudi health authorities say the disease, which originated in camels, does not transmit easily between people and may simply die out.
    Health experts have warned, however, that MERS has the potential to mutate eventually.
    The number of officially confirmed Saudi cases has jumped suddenly over the past two weeks.
    Saudi authorities last week issued several statements aimed at reassuring the public that there was no immediate cause for concern at the latest outbreak and that it had not met international definitions of an epidemic.
    Rabia said the ministry had invited five European and North American companies to work with it in developing a vaccine and that some of the companies would soon visit the kingdom.
    Rabia said the ministry had invited five European and North American companies to work with it in developing a vaccine and that some of the companies would soon visit the kingdom.

    "We have invited the five leading companies known to scientists in vaccination industry. We have sent them letters to invite them to collaborate with the Ministry of Health. They have answered us and we know some of them are going to visit us soon," he said.
    Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, is expected to receive a surge of pilgrims in July during the faith's annual fasting month of Ramadan, followed by millions more in early October for the Haj.
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