RIYADH — Health professionals face imprisonment of up to six months and fines of up to SR100,000 if they fail to report any suspected cases of the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) which has claimed 419 lives in the Kingdom since it was first reported in June 2012. A circular sent to the directorates of health affairs, said that violating health professionals may also lose their medical licenses. Minister of Health Ahmed Aqeel Al-Khatib said the ministry stresses the utmost importance of reporting suspicious cases of MERS-coronavirus through the approved system “Hassin”. The Ministry of Health disclosed that experts and specialists are testing over 2,000 samples a week as compared to 100 samples per week during the same period last year. On Wednesday, the ministry registered one case of coronavirus. A 48-year-old expatriate was admitted to a hospital in Riyadh. Earlier this month, Saudi authorities warned of a risk posed from newborn camels. The World Health Organization (WHO) has cited the preliminary results of studies indicating that people working with camels are at increased risk of infection from MERS-CoV, and young camels are particularly susceptible. The Kingdom has been hardest hit by the virus, which was first identified three years ago. A public awareness campaign is ongoing, with the WHO urging people working with camels to pay particular attention to personal hygiene. The ministry recommends proper hand-washing, and coughing and sneezing into a tissue, as among the steps to reduce the risk of infection. Symptoms of MERS can include fever, a cough and difficulty breathing. More than 20 countries have been affected by MERS since 2012.
