UAE On the Arabian Peninsula
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The World Health Organization this morning announced a new MERS coronavirus case in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which is their first case reported with an onset in 2014. This 66 year-old patient, who is currently hospitalized in stable condition, has both contact with camels and recent travel history to Oman.
This patient fell ill, and was hospitalized, more than two weeks ago. An epidemiological investigation, and contact tracing, are ongoing.
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – update
Disease outbreak news
7 February 2014 - On 3 February 2014, United Arab Emirates notified WHO of an additional laboratory-confirmed case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection .
The case is a 66 year-old male, UAE national residing in Abu Dhabi. He had onset of symptoms on 20 January 2014 with an upper respiratory tract illness and was admitted to hospital on 24 January 2014 with pneumonia and renal failure. He had underlying medical conditions.
MERS-CoV was laboratory-confirmed at the national laboratory in Abu Dhabi on the 30 January 2014 by two positive PCR targets. The Patient is currently in the ICU in stable condition. Public health authorities are carrying out contact tracing and an epidemiological investigation.
The case owns camels in UAE and has recent travel history to Oman from 20 January 2014 where he had contact with camels.
Globally, from September 2012 to date, WHO has been informed of a total of 182 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV, including 79 deaths.
