Gert van der Hoek
In Memoriam - Editor, Senior Moderator
Oct 23 2014
Vaccination of camels under study to defeat MERS; toll 329
The Ministry of Health is currently considering vaccinating camels to counter the spread of the deadly MERS virus as it claimed another life on Wednesday.
Abdullah Asiri, assistant deputy minister for preventive health, said recently that this measure is being considered because it has now been established beyond doubt that camels are carriers of the virus.
"Research studies have confirmed that camels are major carriers of the virus and some studies recommended vaccinating them to eradicate the disease totally," Asiri told a local daily.
He said he would visit Taif to check measures being taken against the spread of the virus, and explore ways to treat patients at King Abdul Aziz Specialist Hospital and King Faisal Hospital.
However, he said a major obstacle is the reluctance of major pharmaceutical companies to produce a vaccine because of the high manufacturing costs and low profit margins.
Zawya
Vaccination of camels under study to defeat MERS; toll 329
The Ministry of Health is currently considering vaccinating camels to counter the spread of the deadly MERS virus as it claimed another life on Wednesday.
Abdullah Asiri, assistant deputy minister for preventive health, said recently that this measure is being considered because it has now been established beyond doubt that camels are carriers of the virus.
"Research studies have confirmed that camels are major carriers of the virus and some studies recommended vaccinating them to eradicate the disease totally," Asiri told a local daily.
He said he would visit Taif to check measures being taken against the spread of the virus, and explore ways to treat patients at King Abdul Aziz Specialist Hospital and King Faisal Hospital.
However, he said a major obstacle is the reluctance of major pharmaceutical companies to produce a vaccine because of the high manufacturing costs and low profit margins.
Zawya