RIYADH — There were only eight confirmed cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus in April, a drop of about 97 percent compared to the same period last year that witnessed 279 cases. In its weekly report on Sunday, the Ministry of Health said there were only three confirmed cases of coronavirus last week. Quoting the ministry's undersecretary for public health Dr. Abdulaziz Bin Saeed, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported that despite the sharp drop in infections the ministry would maintain its precautionary arrangements against the virus since the influenza season is still ongoing. Saeed, who is also chairman of the ministry's command and control center, said 552 coronavirus patients have recovered. As many as 982 people have contracted the virus since it was first discovered in the Kingdom in September 2012. Saeed said 986 coronavirus samples were tested in the ministry's laboratories in April and only three tested positive. He also said the ministry's teams to combat infectious diseases made several visits to hospitals and camel breeding dens. Saeed stressed the ministry will continue its awareness campaign against coronavirus. “We will continue our coordination and close cooperation with all the concerned ministries, the international organizations including the World Health Organization (WHO) and international experts to contain any possible spread of the disease,” he said. Dr. Hail Al-Abdli, head of the ministry's department to combat infections in health establishments, said as the breeding season for camels are the months of November, December and January, there was a rise in coronavirus cases among people in direct contact with the animals. He said some people who are in direct contact with the camels, including owners and shepherds, may be carriers of the virus without showing signs of sickness because their immunity may be strong. “These people may carry the virus to the others with weaker immunity,” he said.
