Saudi Arabia shuts hospital ward as fears of MERS case mount

Manama

Saudi Arabian Authorities have closed an emergency ward in one of the Kingdom’s largest hospitals after at least 46 people, including hospital staff, contracted the potentially fatal Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).  

Citing Dr. Hanan Balkhi of the Health Ministry’s Department for Infectious Diseases, Saudi Gazette reported that of the 46 people infected at King Abdulaziz Medical City in the capital Riyadh, 15 were medical staff. 

“Another 20 people with symptoms are currently being tested to see if they have contracted the virus,” she added. “The patients from the ward, which is to remain closed for two weeks, are being transferred to other hospitals.” 

Saudi Health Minister Khaled Al-Falih said that the current spread of MERS-coronavirus in Riyadh was comparatively limited. “All the cases registered in Riyadh recently are from a single source.” 

Saudi Ministry of Health Command and Control Centre data shows 485 people have died of the coronavirus since it was first identified in 2012. Total 1,128 cases have been registered nationwide; 592 have recovered and the rest are being treated. 

This is especially perturbing as travelers begin to arrive for the Haj between September 20 and 25 this year. 

Bahrain in fine fettle

Confirming that Bahrain is free from MERS, Chief of Disease Control Section Public Health, Ministry of Health Dr Adel Al Sayed explained: “Since 2012 we have tested more than 1,300 suspected cases for MERS-COV and all the results are negative. The Public health lab is fully equipped to diagnose the disease.”

He said that they had taken considerable precautionary measures including the enhanced and strengthened vigilance for severe acute respiratory diseases to find any suspected cases of MERS-COV.

Dr Sayed said that they had prepared and disseminated a MERS-COV national preparedness plan to all health care workers in Bahrain. They have also conducted several educational seminars to health care workers about the disease. He exuded confidence that with all these meticulous efforts, Bahrain would remain a MERS-free country.