Amal Al-Sibai

Saudi Gazette

The new cases of coronavirus, which causes Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) that were reported this week, have sent a new wave of fear and alarm in Saudi society.



According to the US-based Center for Disease Control, coronavirus comes from the same group of viruses as the common cold and it attacks the respiratory system. It is less transmissible but more virulent. Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, chills, fatigue, and it can lead to pneumonia, kidney failure, and even death in those with immune deficiency problems.



“Wherever we go, people are wearing masks; in malls, restaurants, clinics, hospitals, and other public places. Every day as my children go off to school I am in fear that they will contract the coronavirus,” said Samar Fadel.  



Looking at the numbers, the information dispensed by the Ministry of Health states that the total number of confirmed infections of MERS in Saudi Arabia has reached 371 cases in the last two years. The reasons are still not understood but in the last month of April, the number of cases doubled in the Kingdom. Of the people who caught the disease in Saudi Arabia, more than 100 have died since the disease was initially identified two years ago.



There is grounded cause for concern, efforts to educate the public, and for the implementation of sound, preventive measures by all society members. However, unfounded fear, panic, and frenzy are all counterproductive. Just to put matters into perspective, examine this: According to the General Directorate of Traffic, 19 people die from traffic accidents in Saudi Arabia each day.



Each year in the Kingdom, 30,000 people idea as a direct result of smoking related illnesses.  

Coronary heart disease is responsible for 57,520 deaths in Saudi Arabia per year.



Car accidents, cigarette smoking, and heart disease have claimed way more lives than coronavirus.



Caution, prudence, and smart hygiene practices are necessary to control the further spread of MERS, but not fear and paranoia.



How can a little bit of fear and extra, extra caution harm anyone?



In an interview conducted by Science Insider, virologist Christian Drosten, who worked in Saudi Arabia with local researchers to understand MERS, sheds light on how excessive fear and testing may not be so helpful after all.



“Before April, 459 tests for the coronavirus had been done in all of Saudi Arabia this year. Then in just 1 month, just in the city of Jeddah, 4,629 tests were done. Some of these tested positive, but many of them didn’t really get sick,” said Drosten.



People who have no symptoms should not be tested just for the sake of testing or ‘making sure’.

“That is the big problem. So many samples are being tested that the lab capacity won’t suffice for the real cases. If you identify all the mild, non-severe cases and put them in isolation beds, then you have no beds left for the real cases. For mild, non-complicated cases, there is a good option and that is isolation at home, with proper patient education,” said Drosten.



“Some patients are highly contagious. Now in some emergency rooms in some Saudi hospitals, patients are kept for a very long time because there are no beds available on the wards. If there are such highly contagious patients among them, then clearly you get hospital-acquired infections,” explained Drosten.



Virologist Christian Drosten believes that the only real threat to the spread of MERS is in hospitals. “What’s needed most right now is a massive campaign for hospital hygiene. Send teams into the hospitals to retrain health care workers who come from all over the globe. Teach them proper infection control. That would change a lot,” he said.



What is needed is increased awareness, not fear. For protection against the spread of MERS, follow these basic prevention tips.



1. Boost your immune system; a strong immune system is capable of combating bacterial and viral infections. The majority of reported cases and the majority of fatalities that resulted from contracting coronavirus involved children, the elderly, and those who have chronic diseases, which weaken the immune system. To boost your immune system, try to manage your stress levels. Exercise regularly, increase exposure to natural sunlight, and practice relaxation techniques. Get adequate sleep; go to bed early and rise with the sun.



2. Eat a healthy, balanced, nutrient rich diet. Foods proven to increase immunity, ward off viral infections, and lessen flu symptoms include: garlic, lemons, ginger, natural honey, yogurt, homemade chicken soup, tea, fish, oats, barley, and sweet potatoes.



3. Follow smart personal hygiene practices and teach them to your kids. Coronavirus can only be transmitted by mixing of body fluids or if the mist emitted from one person’s respiratory system enters your own respiratory system. The solution: Cough or sneeze in a tissue and immediately throw the tissue in the trash. Never spit in the presence of people.



4. Epidemiologist, Dr. Fathi Neana, describes frequent hand washing as a sure preventive measure against the spread of bacteria and viruses. At regular intervals throughout the day, wash your hands well with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Arm your kids with a hand sanitizer and teach them to use it often.



5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth because germs spread this way.



6. Avoid close contact with sick people. If someone in your house is sick, let them use separate items, such as hand towels, cups, and pillows.



7. Breathe through your nose, not your mouth. Your nose is able to filter out airborne dust and germs.



8. Minimize unnecessarily going to overcrowded and congested places.



9. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as toys and doorknobs.