"The available evidence indicates that camels transmit MERS-CoV to humans, who then infect each other through direct contact with droplets that contain the virus," said Dr. Anees Sindi, deputy commander of the MOH Command and Control Center. "The situation in Taif is still under investigation and we expect to see more cases in the coming days and weeks." The Ministry has developed strict protocols for treating MERS-CoV patients in collaboration with international partners at the World Health Organization and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It has designated hospitals to serve as MERS-CoV Centers of Excellence. These facilities are designed to provide life-saving treatment to people who are infected with the disease while ensuring that healthcare workers are protected from exposure to the virus. Patients are transferred to these Centers of Excellence whenever possible. "We are taking aggressive action to reduce the rate of infection in Taif," Dr. Sindi said. "This includes educating the public about the importance of avoiding close contact with camels and providing additional training for hospital workers on proper infection-control procedures."The Ministry's Command and Control Center also developed a comprehensive disease surveillance system that provides real-time information about new cases and the capacity of health facilities to provide intensive-care to MERS-CoV patients. --More 21:57 LOCAL TIME 18:57 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w