The Infection Prevention and Control Coordinator with Grey Bruce Health Services was one of 25 experts from across Canada selected to travel to Saudi Arabia to help reduce the spread of the MERS-Corona Virus.

The team left July 3rd and were there for 3 weeks. Jo-Anne McConnell says they assessed three hospitals and spent a week at each site. She adds they would work with the staff to identify each hospitals’ top ten priorities for reducing the spread of MERS.

Teams from Turkey, India and Austria were also assisting. All together she says 400 hospitals were assessed.

McConnell says the MERS-Corona virus has similar signs and symptoms to the SARS Virus. It was detected in Saudi Arabia in 2012, and over 200 cases were reported earlier this year.

McConnel says she’s learned a lot in the last ten years, as a result of SARS in Ontario, and she wanted to share her knowledge with another County, adding she could help and wanted to help.

McConnell is returning to Saudi Arabia on September 10th with another team, with hopes the project will be completed by October 2nd.