Stepping up awareness efforts, the Health Ministry has called on people working with camels, or living in close proximity to them, to carefully follow official instructions on how to prevent coronavirus infections. Last month a number of people who had been handling camels or were close to these animals, were reportedly infected with coronavirus.

The ministry asked all people working in camel barns to avoid coming close to sick animals in particular, and distance themselves from any emitting secretions like mucus or other liquids such as blood, urine and milk out of their bodies. Boiling the animal’s milk, even if it doesn’t show any signs of sickness, is also highly recommended to prevent contagion.

In case one is obliged to come near a camel less than half a meter away, a mask on the nose and mouth as well as gloves for hands and a full protective suit over the body is a must, to avoid touching any part of the animal.

The Health Ministry hasn’t recorded any new cases of coronavirus for a week now. However, two patients are currently being treated and over 822 cases of the virus have been detected since the first case in Shawwal 1433. Out of all these cases, 465 people were cured and 355 died of the disease.

Tariq Saleh Jamal, ENT expert at King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah and director of the Ear, Nose and Throat Association, called on all parties concerned to continue the efforts to raise awareness among people on the coronavirus. According to the doctor, the fact that numbers are declining does not mean that the government has to halt its awareness programs, especially among those who deal with camels daily.

Jamal stressed that viruses are very resilient and capable of mutating.

“The best advice says that prevention is better than treatment. Using hand tissues when sneezing, washing the hands and wearing respirators will reduce cases of infections and contamination among healthy people. People should always use sterilizers and disinfectants and avoid crowded places as much as possible,” said the professor.

Mohammed Halawani, a consultant in infection control and hospital epidemiology, said all viruses are capable of mutating, making them fatal creatures if a person's immune system is weak.

“Such viruses can form new more fatal strains. In any case, prevention is the best medicine,” he added, echoing Jamal’s advice.