JEDDAH, 6 September — Health Minister Dr. Osama Shubokshi announced that a tripartite committee of the Border Guards, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agriculture and Water will investigate the death of several heads of cattle in the northern and southern border areas of the Kingdom.
Dr. Shubokshi said the situation was now under control.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Water has taken necessary precautions against the spread of an animal disease which caused widespread death of cattle in the southern province of Asir, according to the director general of the ministry’s branch in the province.
The official attributed the deaths to an infectious disease which local cattle had contracted from imported animals. The viral infection does not affect humans, the official added.
The ministry has stepped up efforts to eradicate the disease with intensified immunization campaigns and thorough laboratory tests of dead animals. The ministry has also taken measures to prevent the cattle in the province from coming into contact with those from Jizan region.
Another official ruled out the possible breakout of Rift Valley Fever again in Jizan and Tihama plains following heavy rains in the region, Al-Watan reported yesterday.
The fatal disease claimed 124 human lives, affected more than 800 people and killed thousands of cattle in 2000.
Answering a question posed by Arab News, Dr. Shubokshi said Saudi Red Crescent Society would start an air ambulance service in coordination with the Ministry of Defense and Aviation. The service aims at fast transfer of affected people to hospitals.
He added that 240 new ambulances have been added to Red Crescent’s fleet at a total investment of SR59.6 million. Half of the new vehicles are equipped with mobile emergency units with doctors and paramedics to attend patients while the other half are fitted with ordinary medical equipment. The vehicles will be deployed Kingdomwide. Commenting on the launch of the first phase of medical insurance for expatriates yesterday, the minister said the service will be fully operational in three years. The minister added that two new medical projects would be launched in Makkah.
