Official: 90 pct of camels in Gulf region carry MERS coronavirus
Xinhua, February 25, 2015 Adjust font size:
About 90 percent of camels in the Gulf region carry the coronavirus that causes Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), a Saudi health official has said.
The situation calls for an acceleration in the development of vaccines for camels against the MERS-CoV, said Abdullah Asiri, undersecretary for preventative health at the Saudi Health Ministry.
There is an urgent need for a vaccine for camels as the virus can be transmitted over a one-meter distance, Arab News, in its Wednesday editions, quoted the official as saying.
A person who comes into contact with infected camels can transmit the virus to family members without showing symptoms of the disease, Asiri said, adding that younger camels are most likely to transmit the disease to humans.
Saudi Arabia is witnessing an increase in MERS-CoV infections due to the changing weather and the breeding season of camels.
Asiri urged the public to avoid contact with animals, especially camels. Otherwise they should wear masks and gloves, and refrain from rubbing their eyes or noses afterward.
Since the first MERS case that was reported here in 2012, a total of 912 cases, including 388 deaths, have been reported in Saudi Arabia. Endit