WHO MERS Update: Saudi Arabia – Nov 13th

Credit WHO

 

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The World Health Organization has published their latest update on Saudi Arabian MERS cases, catching up on 7 cases reported between October 26th an November 1st.   While a small sampling, today’s report illustrates how much of an impact nosocomial infections play in the spread of this virus.

Credit Saudi MOH

As the chart above show, nearly half (45%) of all Saudi MERS cases are hospital acquired.  A third of all cases involve hospital patients unlucky enough to be treated in a facility where the virus is spreading unchecked, and 12% are healthcare workers. 

 

Of today’s 7 cases, 6 are hospital acquired (3 HCWs), while one is an asymptomatic contact of a large extended-household cluster involving ex-pat workers in Riyadh.  

 

Although the MOH has advised, cajoled, and even threatened medical facilities across the Kingdom in order to improve their infection control protocols, the effective control of MERS in Saudi hospitals remains an elusive goal. 

 

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Saudi Arabia

Disease outbreak news
13 November 2015

Between 26 October and 1 November 2015, the National IHR Focal Point for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia notified WHO of 7 additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection, including 1 death.

Details of the cases

1. A 28-year-old, non-national, female health care worker from Hofuf city developed symptoms on 18 October and, on the same day, was home isolated. As symptoms worsened, on 23 October, she was admitted to the hospital where she works. The patient, who has no comorbidities, tested positive for MERS-CoV on 28 October. Currently, she in critical condition in ICU. The patient works in a hospital that has been experiencing a MERS-CoV outbreak and provided care to laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV cases (see DON published on 29 October; case no. 5 and 7). She has no history of exposure to other known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms.
2. A 56-year-old female from Riyadh city was identified through contact tracing while asymptomatic. The patient, who has comorbidities, tested positive for MERS-CoV on 26 October. Currently, she is still asymptomatic and in stable condition in home isolation. The patient has a history of contact with a MERS-CoV case (see DON published on 29 October – case no. 2). She has no history of exposure to other known risk factors in the 14 days prior to being detected.
3. A 24-year-old, non-national, female health care worker from Riyadh city developed symptoms on 23 October and, on 24 October, was admitted to hospital. The patient, who has no comorbidities, tested positive for MERS-CoV on 26 October. Currently, she is in stable condition in home isolation. The patient has a history of contact with a MERS-CoV case (see DON published on 29 October – case no. 3). She has no history of exposure to other known risk factors in the 14 days prior to being detected.
4. An 81-year-old male from Hofuf city developed symptoms on 22 October while admitted to hospital for unrelated medical conditions since 18 September. This hospital has been experiencing a MERS-CoV outbreak. The patient, who has comorbidities, tested positive for MERS-CoV on 27 October. Currently, he is in critical condition in ICU. Investigation of possible epidemiological links with MERS-CoV cases admitted to the hospital or with shared health care workers is ongoing. The patient has no history of exposure to other known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms.
5. A 54-year-old male from Hofuf city was admitted to hospital due to chronic condition on 15 October and, on 22 October, was discharged. This hospital has been experiencing a MERS-CoV outbreak. The patient developed symptoms on 24 October and, on 25 October, was admitted to a different hospital. He tested positive on 26 October. Currently, the patient is in stable condition in a negative pressure isolation room. Investigation of possible epidemiological links with MERS-CoV cases admitted to the hospital or with shared health care workers is ongoing. The patient has no history of exposure to other known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms.
6. A 61-year-old male from Hofuf city developed symptoms on 20 October while admitted to hospital due to unrelated medical conditions since 2007. This hospital has been experiencing a MERS-CoV outbreak. The patient tested positive for MERS-CoV on 22 October and, on 30 October, passed away. Investigation of possible epidemiological links with MERS-CoV cases admitted to the hospital or with shared health care workers is ongoing. The patient had no history of exposure to other known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms.
7. A 36-year-old, non-national, female health care worker from Hofuf city developed symptoms on 15 October and, on 16 October, was admitted to the hospital where she works. The patient, who has no comorbidities, tested positive for MERS-CoV on 23 October. Currently, she is in stable condition in a negative pressure isolation room on a ward. The patient works in a hospital that has been experiencing a MERS-CoV outbreak and provided care to laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV cases (see DON published on 29 October; case no. 5 and 7). She has no history of exposure to other known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms.

Contact tracing of household and healthcare contacts is ongoing for these cases.

The National IHR Focal Point for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia also notified WHO of the death of 3 MERS-CoV cases that were reported in previous DONs on 29 October (case no. 5, 7 and 10).

Globally, since September 2012, WHO has been notified of 1,618 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV, including at least 579 related deaths.