Saudi MERS patient is a camel breeder

Manama : The Saudi man, who was diagnosed with Middle East Respiratory Symptom (MERS/coronavirus) in Bahrain three days ago, was proven to be a camel breeder and got the disease from camels, health authorities revealed yesterday.

International studies indicated earlier that the deadly disease is transmitted to humans through camels.

Health Ministry’s Public Health Directorate stated that “samples were taken from the patient once again and they were positive. His family members informed that he’s a camel breeder and mingled with them often.”

The Directorate also confirmed that samples taken from the people, who had direct contact with the patient, were negative.

“About 54 samples were taken from them. The samples  were tested in the Directorate’s laboratories. Fortunately, all results were negative,” it said.

DT News reported on Sunday that the first coronavirus case in Bahrain was detected in a Saudi patient, who was undergoing an open heart surgery at Mohammed bin Khalifa Cardiac Centre in Bahrain Defence Force (Military) Hospital.

The Directorate said then that the patient and everyone, who entered his room, including medical staff, relatives, visitors and even cleaners, would be quarantined for 14 days. 

The Directorate added that it’s coordinating with all relevant parties to follow up the status of the patient.  They will develop a plan to combat the disease, which was discovered for the first time in Bahrain since it globally emerged in 2012, killing hundreds worldwide, mainly in the neighbouring Kingdom.

“The Directorate has given necessary instructions to all heads of departments and health centres here to follow up the developments of the virus in coordination with Health Ministry officials and the relevant authorities,” the Directorate said in a statement issued on Sunday.

Meanwhile, in the framework of cooperation between the Kingdom of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia to combat coronavirus, the Directorate confirmed that a specialised infection control delegation from Saudi Arabia reached the country on the next day of the discovery of the case.

However, the patient will be transferred to a Saudi hospital for medical follow-up. The Saudi medical team coordinated the move with the special committee in charge of following up the MERS-infected patient. 

Royal Medical Services Commander Major-General Professor Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa thanked the Saudi medical team for their cooperation and quick response to the demand of the BDF Military Hospital.