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The World Health Organization posted an update this afternoon on their GAR (Global Alert & Response) page regarding the three new MERS cases Saudi Arabia’s MOH reported earlier today (see MERS-CoV: KSA Announces 3 More Cases).
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) - update 1 August 2013
01/08/2013
WHO has been informed of an additional three laboratory-confirmed cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection in Saudi Arabia.
The first patient is a 67-year-old woman from Riyadh with underlying medical conditions. She became ill on 25 July 2013. She has no known exposure to animals or to a case confirmed with MERS-CoV infection. She is currently hospitalized.
The other two patients are health care workers, both women, from Assir and Riyadh regions . Both of them have mild symptoms and were exposed to patients who were laboratory-confirmed cases.
Globally, from September 2012 to date, WHO has been informed of a total of 94 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV, including 46 deaths.
Based on the current situation and available information, WHO encourages all Member States to continue their surveillance for severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) and to carefully review any unusual patterns.
Health care providers are advised to maintain vigilance. Recent travellers returning from the Middle East who develop SARI should be tested for MERS-CoV as advised in the current surveillance recommendations.
