There is a lack of awareness about the dangers of the deadly Coronavirus and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers) among camel breeders, local daily Arrayah has reported.

Questions are being raised about the preventive and precautionary measures taken by the Qatari authorities to face the challenges and threats of the infection.

Camel owners and breeders told the daily that as yet no officials had visited or contacted them about the virus. Many expressed their ignorance about the symptoms and protective measures one needs to take against the virus.

A number of cattle traders said that so far no cases of corona infection said to spread through camels had been registered in Qatar. They also referred to the existence of an intensive veterinary care that ensures the health of the camels.

Director of Protection of Health and Combating Communicable diseases in the Health Council has highlighted the importance of taking precautions in dealing with the camels, especially its meat and milk.

He warned especially the chronically ill patients to avoid mixing with camels and called all persons dealing with camels to adopt the healthy practice of washing hands before and after touching any camel products.

The Health Council has said that it would continue with its execution of a national survey to detect the factors of corona infection and the Mers in co-operation with the Ministry of Environment and the World Health Organisation.

The Council said that it was taking a number of measures and precautionary steps to contain the virus and that no case of infection was registered since November 2013.

Farhood Hadi al-Hajiri, Director Annimal Wealth Department, Ministry of Environment, said that there was as yet no ban in place on the import of camels or their products from neighbouring countries. He also said that the communication of the virus from the camel meat and milk to humans was as yet not scientifically proved.

Precautionary steps were taken in the last few months by the neighbouring countries to limit the spread of the corona virus after scientific studies suspected a relationship between certain types of camels and contact of the virus with humans.