• Ensure hands are thoroughly washed using water and soap and hand sanitisers that contain disinfectants
• Practise “cough etiquette” by covering your mouth and nose when sneezing
• Anyone visiting farms, markets, barns or other places where animals are present should practise hygiene measures including regular hand washing before and after touching animals, and avoiding contact with sick animals
• Avoid eating unpasteurised dairy or raw animal products
• People with diabetes, renal failure or chronic lung disease are considered to be at high risk of severe disease from Mers infection. These people should avoid contact with camels, drinking raw camel milk, or eating meat that has not been properly cooked
• Camel farm and slaughterhouse workers should practise good hygiene by frequently washing hands after touching animals, and wearing facial protection and protective clothing, which should be washed daily. They should also avoid exposing family members to soiled work clothing, shoes, or other items that may have come into contact with camels or camel excretions.
jbell@thenational.ae
*Information supplied by the World Health Organisation
