# 8632
We’ve an update from the World Health Organization on the second confirmed MERS cases imported into the the Netherlands, a close contact of the original case we learned about on Wednesday (see Netherlands Reports 1st Imported MERS Case).
This case illustrates how easily a `mildly’ infected person might go undetected, as this patient’s were not severe enough for her to seek medical help upon her return from Saudi Arabia. Her condition was discovered during the contact investigation of the original case, and she was isolated, and now her contacts are being checked.
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – update
6/05/2014
16 MAY 2014 – On 15 May 2014, the National IHR Focal Point for the Netherlands notified WHO about a second laboratory confirmed case of MERS-CoV infection in the Netherlands. The case was discovered during the national contact investigation, performed in relation to the first MERS-CoV case in the Netherlands reported on 14 May 2014.
This second patient is a 73-year old female citizen of the Netherlands and a close family member of the first case. Both patients were on the same trip through the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and shared a hotel room throughout the entire journey. This second patient has co-morbidities and developed first symptoms, including some breathing difficulties, on 5 May 2014 in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Upon return to the Netherlands on 10 May, the patient presented with mild respiratory symptoms and fever, but these were not severe enough for her to seek medical help.
During contact investigation, her clinical condition was re-evaluated by a general practitioner and sampling for MERS-CoV was initiated. Samples taken from the patient are currently being tested, but initial findings confirm she is positive for MERS-Cov. Currently, the patient is in a stable condition with fever and mild respiratory symptoms and is hospitalized in isolation.
Identification of close contacts (including flight contacts) has been initiated, although the majority of her contacts overlap with those from the first patient.
Globally, 614 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV have officially been reported to WHO, including 181 deaths. The global total includes all of the case reported in this update, plus 41 laboratory confirmed cases officially reported to WHO from Saudi Arabia between 10 and 15 May. WHO is working with Saudi Arabia for additional information on these cases and will provide further updates as soon as possible.
