Saudi hospital head sacked as MERS death toll hits 117
May 10 TOI
Saudi Arabia´s acting health minister has announced the sacking of
the head of a Jeddah hospital where a spike in MERS infections among
medical staff sparked panic among the public.
The move, which Adel Fakieh published on Twitter late Tuesday, came
after he inspected King Fahd Hospital´s emergency department in the Red
Sea city.Hours after the news, health officials announced two more
deaths from the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus, bringing
the toll to 117.
The victims were a 68-year-old woman in Jeddah, the kingdom´s
commercial capital, and a 60-year-old man died in Medina.The Jeddah
hospital was temporarily shut last month after several medics were
infected by MERS.And panic at the Red Sea city´s main hospital prompted
at least four doctors to resign in mid-April after they refused to treat
MERS patients for fear of infection.Nearly a week later, Riyadh
dismissed the health minister and appointed Fakieh, who is labour
minister, to take over the health portfolio on an acting basis.Fakieh,
who has repeatedly promised “transparency” over MERS, said he has
replaced the head of the hospital and his assistants.
“The new team will immediately take up its duties,” he tweeted,
adding that “the ministry will take all decisive measures to achieve its
goals in preserving the health of members of society.ÓSaudi Arabia has
reported 431 infections since MERS first appeared in its eastern region
in September 2012 before spreading across the kingdom. Fakieh said last
week that measures to contain the spread of MERS “will be announced in
the coming days”. |