Health authorities in Makkah have begun training their personnel, including nurses and doctors, to prevent the spread of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection during the Haj season, a report said.

Nearly 3,800 personnel are being trained to deal with coronavirus-related cases and preventive measures, a report in the Arab News said quoting Dr Abdul Salam Noorwali, director of the Ministry of Health in the Makkah region. The extensive training that began last week will last for three more weeks, it said.

Noorwali emphasised the importance of effective measures for infection control methods in view of the Mers virus, the report said.

He added that all deployed staff must pass the infection control management tests conducted by the MoH in the holy city, it said. – TradeArabia News Service