Jakarta, May 7 (Antara) - Indonesian minor Hajj pilgrims and the
migrant workers in the Middle East countries have been warned about the
deadly MERS-CoV virus that has infected over 400 people and killed 100
of them in Saudi Arabia.
Eighteen more people in Saudi Arabia have contracted the potentially
deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), bringing the total
number of cases in the kingdom to 414, more than a quarter of whom have
died, Saudi Arabia Health Ministry was quoted as saying by Reuters on
Monday.
Several patients in Sumatra who had returned from the minor Hajj
(Umroh) pilgrimage are showing symptoms similar to those of MERS Corona
Virus (MERS-CoV) and one of them died on Tuesday.
Medan City Acting Mayor Dzulmi Eldin on Wednesday called on the people
to remain alert about the spread of MERS-CoV. He appealed to the travel
agencies organizing Hajj pilgrimage to check the health of their
pilgrims at least two weeks before their departure.
He added that the travel bureaus needed to conduct health check-ups to
prevent the spread of MERS-CoV, which was firstly reported in Saudi
Arabia and has spread to Medan, the provincial capital of North Sumatra.
"Besides appealing to the travel agents to check the health of pilgrims
before their departure, we also urged the people who have just returned
from the pilgrimage to check their health, let alone if they have
symptoms like coughs, cold, fever, and difficulty in breathing," the
mayor stressed.
On Tuesday, it was reported that a 54-year-old patient, known by the
initials KS, died at a general hospital in Medan. He was suspected of
having contracted the virus.
Lung Specialist Prof Dr Luhur Soeroso SpP of the H Adam Malik General
Hospital informed newsmen that the patient is suspected to have died of
MERS-CoV.
"The patient died at around 1:30 p.m. on Sunday after being admitted at
12:00 p.m.," Prof Dr Luhur Soeroso SpP reported.
He added that KS had received intensive treatment in a ward specifically dedicated to treat bird flu patients.
"KS is suspected to have had MERS because of the symptoms he suffered,
including breathing difficulties and fever," he stated.
KS arrived in the country on Saturday (May 3) after conducting a minor
Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, where the disease originated.
The other patient who complained of the same symptoms is Mrs Shan (50)
who has just returned from the minor Hajj pilgrimage. Shan, who is now
being treated at the H Adam Malik General Hospital, is a resident of
Liberia village, Deli Serdang District, North Sumatra Province.
Luhur
Soeroso of the hospital remarked that the patient was admitted on
Monday (May 5). He noted that the patient had high fever and breathing
difficulties after arriving from Umroh in Saudi Arabia.
"Her family took her to the hospital to prevent further spread of the
virus to the Deli Serdang villagers. She needed to be checked to confirm
that she was infected by the virus, as the patient has just come back
from Saudi Arabia," asserted Soeroso.
"The MARS-CoV infection is very dangerous and doctors have yet to find
its medicine," claimed Soeroso who is a lung specialist.
In the meantime, in the Riau province, three people are suspected to
have been infected by the MERS-CoV virus. They are now undergoing
medical treatment in the Riau capital city of Pekanbaru.
The three are being given special medical treatment in isolated rooms,
Head of the provincial health service Zainal Arifin reported on
Wednesday.
However, results of the laboratory tests are yet to come from Jakarta
to confirm whether the three patients are suffering from the disease,
Zainal noted while refusing to divulge their names.
"They just returned from an Umroh pilgrimage and they were showing symptoms of MERS-CoV," he added.
Two
of the patients are being treated at the state hospital of RSUD Arifin
Achmad and one at a private hospital of RS Awal Bros.
Health Minister Nafsiah Mboi stressed that MERS-CoV occurring in Saudi
Arabia is a matter of concern because many Indonesians went for Umroh
pilgrimage in that country or those who work in the Middle East.
"The
first case occurred in Jidda, then in Mecca and in Medina, it was found
even in France. It is a matter of concern since in the 24 hours since
yesterday there were 10 new patients. So we are worried," she stated
last Friday.
The Ministry of Health has already issued a warning to the people,
especially those on a minor Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, to be alert
about the MERS-CoV infection.
"They have all been notified, including the will-be minor Hajj pilgrims
and travel agents," remarked Health Minister Nafsiah Mboi.
The minister assured that all the airport health centers have also been
provided with equipment to monitor the body temperature of passengers
arriving from abroad, especially from the Arab countries where such
cases have been reported.
"In case the symptoms are detected, check immediately. The faster one
reports the case the better it will be, as it will help to control the
virus from spreading further. Don't forget to tell the health worker if
you have just arrived from an Arab country," she reiterated.
One of the preventive measures that she mentioned was maintaining a
safe distance from someone who had cold and cough symptoms as the
MERS-CoV symptoms are similar.
Moreover, if someone is in a crowded area, he or she should wear a mask because the virus spreads through air.
In order to prevent the spread of the disease in Indonesia, the
government will intensify its efforts to raise awareness and offer
guidance in preventing the spread of MERS-CoV infection among the
Indonesian people.
"The
Office of the Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare will
coordinate the effort to exchange data and information to reinforce a
fast response and integrated surveillance when a MERS-CoV case is found
in Indonesia," Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Agung Laksono
remarked on Monday.
He reiterated that one of the ways to prevent the spread of the
MERS-CoV infection is to adopt healthy habits in daily life, such as
washing hands to maintain sanitation at all times. The government will
also strengthen its early detection efforts through installation of
thermal scanners at airports and seaports for those who have just
arrived from the Middle East.
The efforts to raise awareness will be made through cross-sectoral
ministries, such as the Health Ministry, the Foreign Affairs Ministry,
the Transportation Ministry, and other related institutions.
"The
Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI), the National Police, and the
Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) will help to propagate preventative measures
against the spread of the MERS-CoV infection," Agung Laksono noted.
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(T.A014/INE/H-YH)
EDITED BY INE
(T.A014/A/BESSR/A/Yosep) 07-05-2014 16:51 |
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