MADINAH — Restaurants selling dishes containing camel meat have reported huge losses since the outbreak of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in the Kindgom. Researchers have identified a link between camels and the coronavirus that causes the disease. However, health organizations and experts have confirmed that MERS is not going to become an epidemic unlike the bird flu. The disease doesn't pose a threat to human life and soon it will disappear. People have been confused whether to consume camel meat or not. To that question nutritionist Rowaidah Idris said, "Before we accuse camels, we have to understand that the coronavirus doesn't spread through food. Cooking camel meat at a 70 C temperature is enough not only to kill the coronavirus but also many of the bacteria." Restaurant owners in Madinah complained that the Saudi traditional meal "Kabsa" that is mainly cooked with camel meat is no longer being served due to shortage in camel meat at local butcheries. The Ministry of Health banned the slaughtering of camels in all slaughterhouses in the Kingdom implementing recommendations from teams working to eliminate the coronavirus. Waiter Jamil Saed, who works in one of the restaurants specialized in selling camel meat meals, said that customers have dropped in numbers since the ban have taken place and they stopped selling camel meals. "Many people are afraid of the coronavirus and that's why we no longer offer the meat," said Saeed. The head of the camel market in Madinah Ali Al-Harkan said the losses during Eid Al-Adha reached SR15 million because of the ministry's ban. He said only the camel milk or urine has the ability to transfer the virus to human beings. "But not the meat. Whatever the meat has will eventually die in the cooking process. Not a single shepherd or seller of camel got sick in Madinah," said Al-Harkan.
