France’s Le ministère des Affaires sociales et de la Santé (Ministry of Social Affairs and Health) has issued the following statement confirming what we learned last night (see Media Reports: French Coronavirus Suspect Tests Negative).
No new cases of infection with coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in France
A new probable cases of infection with coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was reported on Oct. 28 at the Institute of Health Surveillance (VS). The Pasteur Institute in Paris, which was entered for additional expertise, just communicate negative about this case. This patient is not infected with the coronavirus. The two cases identified in May 2013 therefore remain the only two confirmed cases in France to this day.
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health noted that in France, so far, the contamination have been reported in the following two situations:
- or after a trip to the Arabian Peninsula with occurrence of respiratory symptoms and fever within 14 days of the return;
- or after close contact with a person infected with coronavirus.
Any person in any of these situations should contact their physician or center and 15 mention the trip in the Arabian Peninsula or close contact.
24 October 2013, the balance of the World Health Organization (WHO) reported 144 cases worldwide, including 62 deaths since September 2012. WHO does not recommend travel restrictions with the countries concerned.
The information on coronavirus established by the Department can be reached toll-free Monday through Saturday from 9 am to 19 pm (0800 13 00 00).
Meanwhile, in Egypt – despite denials by the government that a suspect case on Monday had MERS-CoV (see Egypt Testing Suspected MERS-CoV Case) – rumors continue to appear in the local press that this was a MERS case, and that two or three others are being tested.
FluTrackers is keeping a log of these news reports, which you can follow here and here.
Given the fragmented government, and general chaos in the region, it is probably worth keeping an eye on these reports.
