Mohammad Dawood

Saudi Gazette

 

JEDDAH — The Ministry of Health has said a patient who had contracted the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) has died and two new cases of infection have been recorded in the past 48 hours.



A source from the ministry said the patient died in Jazan while the two new cases were detected in Jazan and Riyadh. The patient who died in Jazan was a 55-year-old man. The two new patients are also males in their mid-50s.



"The total number of MERS patients in the Kingdom since the deadly virus was first identified in September 2012 reached 1,175,” said the Health Ministry source.



He added 606 of the patients have completely recovered while 503 died. Nine patients are quarantined at their homes and 57 others have been admitted to various hospitals, the source added.



Dr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, director of laboratories and blood banks, said the diagnosis of coronavirus during the Haj season would not take more than six hours.



“The ministry will utilize three specialized laboratories to test for the virus during Haj. They included a mobile lab at a hospital east of Arafat, the regional lab in Makkah and the regional lab in Jeddah.



The ministry has strict procedures to deal with cases that test positive for the virus and to make sure it does not spread from the moment it is detected,” said Al-Omar.



He said if a case was detected the patient would be informed immediately. “Once a case was detected, the doctors will isolate the patient and put him through intensive treatment to eradicate the virus from his body before it could infect someone else,” said the source.



He added the designated laboratories are open all day long throughout the week and are run by experts in gastronomical diseases.



“The labs are ready and running in preparation for the season. The blood banks are also ready for any emergencies occurring.



All of the blood stored has been extracted since the beginning of August to ensure that the blood is fresh,” said Al-Omar.