SAUDI ARABIA: Camel owners deny a possible link between livestock and the spread of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) Coronavirus as a French official in Saudi Arabia says he has "total confidence" that the government can control the outbreak

Record ID: 189494

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA: Camel owners deny a possible link between livestock and the spread of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) Coronavirus as a French official in Saudi Arabia says he has "total confidence" that the government can control the outbreak
  • Date: 20th May 2014
  • Summary: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (MAY 19, 2014) (REUTERS ) **CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY** NEWS CONFERENCE WITH FRENCH STATE MINISTER FOR PARLIAMENTARY RELATIONS, JEAN-MARIE LE GUEN, AT FRENCH EMBASSY (SOUNDBITE) (English) FRENCH STATE MINISTER FOR PARLIAMENTARY RELATIONS, JEAN -MARIE LE GUEN, SAYING: "We don't move about the visa, We don't forbid any people from Saudi Arabia to France. As we know the epidemic issue is under control for us and we have total confidence in the Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia to face this issue." DELEGATE WRITING NOTES ATTENDANCE CLAPPING AND LEAVING FOLLOWING NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 4th June 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Saudi Arabia
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: Health
  • Reuters ID: LVAEA9FKVA3DZ1AW5YE7CZSK2ET1
  • Story Text: Saudi camel owners denied a possible link between livestock and the spread of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) Coronavirus on Sunday (May 18) as a French official in Saudi Arabia on Monday (May 19) said he has "total confidence" that the government can control the outbreak.
    MERS, a SARS-like viral disease first detected in 2012 that has caused outbreaks in the Middle East and sporadic cases around the world, has raised international alarm with a surge in infections and deaths in Saudi Arabia.
    Since it was first identified, MERS has infected more than 500 patients in Saudi Arabia alone.
    It kills about 30 percent of the people it infects.
    Camel owners in the Riyadh desert demonstrated their confidence in their animals, by kissing them and drinking raw milk straight from their livestock.

    "We have not heard of anyone (camel owners) who has been hospitalised, even the hospitals haven't declared any case of Corona(virus) among owners of camels. This is conclusive evidence and indisputable. If there was even just one case we can say that the Corona(virus) related to camels, but there isn't. It is unreasonable to link the virus with camels," camel owner Salman al-Rashedi said.
    Saudi citizen Ali al-Rashedi said he has no doubts about the quality of the camel milk.

    "Thank God, we drink camel milk every day, morning and evening, and we are assured. We are hearing media fanfare (about camels and the Coronavirus) but we believe in God and he is the protector, we are not afraid."
    The Saudi Health Ministry has launched a widespread campaign using information posters and videos to educate its citizens how to identify and prevent the spread of the highly contagious disease.
    French Minister for Parliamentary Relations in Saudi Arabia, Jean-Marie Le Guen said on Monday he was confident the Saudi government can control the outbreak of MERS.

    "We don't move about the visa, We don't forbid any people from Saudi Arabia to France. As we know the epidemic issue is under control for us and we have total confidence in the Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia to face this issue," Le Guen told reporters in Riyadh.
    There is currently no cure or vaccine for MERS - a severe respiratory disease which causes cough, fever, shortness of breath, and can lead to pneumonia and kidney failure.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register