(With photos) KUWAIT, Nov 14 (KUNA) -- Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Health Minister Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah urged Thursday public clam after the discovery of the second of infected case of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV).
In a press conference, Sheikh Mohammad said that there is no cause for panic or concern over the spread of the virus, noting that the Ministry has taken all required measures to contain the disease and treat the infected cases.
He admitted that the Arab Gulf region is home to 80 percent of the registered cases, but the virus does not spread at large scale.
There are only 165 registered the infected cases worldwide, he unveiled. Sheikh Mohammad asserted that his ministry is keen on updating the public with all developments related to the disease in a transparent way.
He stated that the undersecretaries of the health ministries in Gulf Cooperation Council member states will hold a meeting on November 23 in Riyadh to study the latest developments regarding the coronavirus spread and treatment. Kuwait reported its first two cases of the deadly MERS coronavirus on Wednesday, the fifth Gulf Arab country the strain has emerged in since the outbreak began in neighboring Saudi Arabia last year.
The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), which can cause coughing, fever and pneumonia, has been reported in people in the Gulf, France, Germany, Italy, Tunisia and Britain. Oman reported its first case last month and the sufferer died on Sunday.
Scientists say they believe dromedary camels in the Middle East may be the animal "reservoir" which is fuelling the outbreak. (end) shd.tb.ibi KUNA 142348 Nov 13NNNN