Coronavirus – Credit CDC PHIL
# 7958
The World Health Organization has released a new GAR (Global Alert & Response) report on the MERS coronavirus, this time regarding Friday’s reported case in Qatar (see Media Reports Of A New MERS-CoV Case In Qatar). He has recent history of visiting animal barns, but no foreign travel history, and no known contact with previously infected persons.
So how he came to be infected remains unknown.
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) - update 10 November 2013
10/11/2013
WHO has been informed of an additional laboratory-confirmed case of infection with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV in Qatar.
The patient is a 48-year-old man with underlying medical conditions. He became ill on 25 October 2013 and was admitted to a hospital on 31 October 2013. He is in currently in a critical condition. Preliminary investigations reveal that he frequently visited animal barns. The patient did not recently travel and has had no contact with a previously laboratory-confirmed case with MERS-CoV.
Globally, from September 2012 to date, WHO has been informed of a total of 151 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV, including 64 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.
