Health Protection Agency (HPA) has slammed rumours spread in social media that eating dates without cleaning may cause Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), which is a viral respiratory disease caused by a coronavirus, that was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012.
HPA advised to check the authenticity of the information shared on social media platforms and to refrain from sharing any information which is false. Noting the coronavirus is directly spread to humans when one eats undercooked camel meant or drink undercooked camel milk, the virus does not pass easily from person to person unless in rare occasions, according to HPA.
Furthermore, HPA assured no studies show the disease is spread to a person when unwashed dates are eaten. Since cases of flu and influenza are increasing these days, HPA and other relevant health authorities have been working to minimise an outbreak.