Coronavirus - Photo Credit WHO
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Although we were tipped off earlier this morning to most of these details (see Gregory Hartl & WHO On UAE MERS Cluster) the World Health Organization has just published the following update on the UAE Family cluster of MERS Coronavirus.
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) - update
Disease outbreak news
2 December 2013 - On 1 December 2013 WHO was informed of an additional three laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in the United Arab Emirates
The three cases belong to a family in Abu Dhabi – a mother (32 years old), father (38 years old) and son (8 years old). The earliest onset of illness was 15 November 2013. Both the mother and father are in a critical condition in hospital. They had no travel history, no contact with a known confirmed case and no history of contact with animals. While hospitalized, the mother gave birth to a newborn child. The 8 year old son, who has mild respiratory symptoms, was detected from epidemiological investigation of family contacts, and is being kept in hospital isolation. Further investigations into close contacts of the family, the newborn baby, and healthcare workers are on-going.
Additionally, two previously laboratory-confirmed cases from Qatar died on 19 and 29 November 2013.
Globally, from September 2012 to date, WHO has been informed of a total of 163 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV, including 70 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.
