Saudi hospitals refuse MERS cases as death toll increases

Saudi Health Ministry has confirmed two more deaths caused by the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus, bringing the death toll in an increasingly anxious population close to 100. 

Thirty people died this month from the virus making April the deadliest month since the appearance of the virus in 2012. The number of cases registered in April also rose to 161. Out of the nine new cases, five involved foreigners, the ministry statement said. Cases of infected people have been reported from the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Tunisia, Jordan Oman, Egypt and Malaysia.

A 63-year-old woman, who had also suffered chronic illness, died of MERS on Saturday in the western city of Jeddah, and a 78-year-old man died of MERS in Riyadh, the health ministry said Sunday.

Meanwhile, at least two private hospitals in Jeddah turned away three people suspected of having coronavirus because they were unable to afford £1,586 each to cover their medical services, the Saudi Gazette reported on Saturday. 

The hospitals raised the price of one night hospitalization to £793 which covers routine medical procedures, respiratory devices, and isolation room services. Medical sources said that a private hospital has recently admitted a coronavirus patient and demanded £793 per day, according to the Gazette article. 

Last week, Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdelaziz removed Abdullah al-Rabeeah from his post as health minister on the background of the outbreak of the deadly virus in the kingdom. Labour Minister Adel Fakied was appointed as acting health minister and promised "transparency" over MERS.

Panic over its spread among medical staff in the western city of Jeddah led to the temporary closure of a main hospital's emergency room.

At least four doctors at Jeddah's King Fahd Hospital resigned last week after refusing to treat MERS patients for fear of infection.

Ailing King Abdullah himself travelled to Jeddah on Thursday to reassure the public and demonstrate that "exaggerated and false rumours" about MERS are false, said his son, National Guard Minister Prince Mitab.

Fakieh said on Saturday that three specialised medical centres have been set up in Jeddah, Riyadh and Eastern Province.

he health ministry has not taken any "additional measures" at airports apart from the "usual preventive measures", a ministry official said.

MERS infections are rising steadily just months ahead of the annual hajj pilgrimage to the Muslim sacred sites in Mecca and Medina, which this year comes in September.

Pilgrims continue to visit Mecca for the lesser umra pilgrimage, which can be performed at any time.

The hajj ministry has not yet taken any special MERS-related measures.

"We have not distributed masks and not taken any preventive measures," ministry undersecretary Abdullah Marghalani said.

"We have not received any instructions about the virus and how to immunise umra pilgrims against it."

MERS has not had any impact on the numbers of pilgrims, Marghalani told Al-Eqtisadiah daily, adding that some 3.8 million pilgrims have visited the country this year.

Saudi's first case of the virus was documented in September 2012. It has since spread throughout the region.

Symptoms, which include persistent fever and cough, are similar to those associated with the SARS virus. MERS, for which no known cure is available, destroys the lungs and kidneys. It is presumed that long-term physical contact can lead to infection.

During a 2003 epidemic of SARS (an earlier form of coronavirus), more than 800 people – mostly from Asia – succumbed to the virus.