#13,042
Although they are not setting any records, over the past 7 days the Saudi capital of Riyadh has reported all three of the country's MERS cases for 2018.
- The first case, which we looked at on January 3rd, was a 57 y.o. male listed in critical condition with no known risk exposure. He was subsequently reported to have died on the 4th.
- On January 5th the MOH reported their second case of 2018,involving a 48 y.o. male listed in stable condition with a history of direct camel exposure.
- Yesterday's (Jan 7th) MOH report cites another primary case (with no listed risk exposure) from Riyadh; a 36 y.o. male, also in critical condition.
Although the source of a large number of `primary' community acquired MERS cases remains undetermined, as we discussed just yesterday (see J.I.D.: Asymptomatic Summertime Shedding Of Respiratory Viruses), asymptomatic (or mildly symptomatic) spreading in the community is one possible explanation.
For a more complete rundown on the limits of MERS surveillance on the Arabian Peninsula, you may with to revisit last week's blog Saudi MOH: 1 Primary MERS Case In Riyadh.
