Brunei government warns of MERS-CoV risk

Brunei Ministry of Health warned against the local Middle-East-bounded travelers to take extra precaution against the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) on Thursday. In their press release, the ministry has informed that any person who is 65 years and older, pregnant women, under-12 children or patient with chronic health problem is at the higher risk of getting the virus. Several symptoms bounded for the disease included high fever (38 degree Celsius or higher), coughing and difficulty in breathing. The ministry has advised the travelers should consider postponing their trip to perform Umrah or Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia) at this period. At the same time, the ministry has also advised the travelers to take several precautions should they make the trip. The precautions included are to take influenza vaccines two weeks before traveling, avoid crowded area or animal farm while traveling at those listed countries, make a visit to the nearest clinic if the above symptoms found, avoid close contact to person caught in flu and wash hands with hand sanitizer after using the toilets, before meal or while preparing meal. As of until now, there were 511 cases reported with 157 fatality cases since the first discovery in 2012 in Saudi Arabia. There were also no vaccine or cure for the deadly disease. The Middle East Countries that are listed where the cases were found included Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Yemen and Lebanon. No case is reported in Brunei Darussalam, according to the ministry. The ministry will continue to take close monitor on the development of the disease.