Khaberni - The Deputy Minister of Health for Population Health in Saudi Arabia, Dr. Abdullah Assiri, confirmed that the recent discussions about the WHO report on the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) involve a degree of confusion and misunderstanding, clarifying that the issued report is a routine periodic report that carries no exceptional indicators or warnings of a new outbreak.
The Deputy Minister explained via his official account on the platform «X», that infections with the «MERS» virus have seen a sharp decline since the COVID-19 pandemic and remain at very low levels, reassuring that the health situation is stable, thanks to God, and does not require worry.
He indicated that the virus has not undergone any new genetic changes and continues to be endemic in camels, with the possibility of transmission in limited cases to people who are in contact with them when not adhering to known preventative measures, affirming that this pattern is well-known and has been monitored for years.
He emphasized that there are no scientific or epidemiological indications of a new outbreak or general health risk, pointing out that the periodic reports issued by the World Health Organization are meant for ongoing monitoring and surveillance, and do not necessarily imply a health emergency.
The Ministry of Health, in this context, confirmed the continuation of the epidemiological surveillance and health investigation systems according to the highest standards, calling for obtaining information from official sources, and not to be swayed by inaccurate interpretations of international reports.
This clarification comes as part of the ministry's efforts to enhance health awareness and provide accurate information to the public, thereby enhancing confidence in the readiness of the health system and its ability to deal with various health developments.
