KSU holds MERS prevention drive

The infection control department at King Saud University Medical City (KSU-MC) organized a three-day campaign against Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV).
The campaign, which was opened by Abdulrahman Mohammed Al-Muammar, chief executive officer at KSU-MC, on Thursday, featured a presentation of statistics and trends of MERS infections, updates on cases and a demonstration on hygiene, among others, said Abba A. Elgujja, infection control coordinator at KSU-MC.
The organizers also took the opportunity to conduct flu vaccination on the occasion, he said on the concluding day of the campaign on Sunday.
The infection control department, in cooperation with the MERS-CoV committee at the KSU, has instituted several measures in the medical city aimed at reducing the risk of coronavirus transmission, Elgujja said.

“The measures include conducting epidemiological tracing, creating an epidemic preparedness plan, policies and procedures, providing adequate resources, education of staff and reorganizing the triaging system to check the spread of the viral respiratory illness.” 

Those with extraordinary contributions to help check the spread of MERS were honored with plaques and recognized for deserving roles.
The awareness program, organized at the King Khalid University Hospital, was also attended by Professor Fahad Al-Zamil, dean of the medical college, Dr. Faisal Al-Saif, chief medical officer, and other high-ranking officials and health care providers.

According to the latest figures available from the Ministry of Health, so far 1,267 people have been infected with MERS-CoV and 540 died since it first emerged in the Kingdom in June 2012.