# 8590
There have been murmurs of a MERS case in Lebanon for several days, and just this morning the Minister of Health was quoted as assuring that no cases had been detected in that country (see Abu Faour Tours Airport, Affirms No MERS Cases in Lebanon).
Now, it is being reported that the Health Minister has admitted to there being at least one case of MERS diagnosed in Lebanon. This first report from The Daily Star.
First coronavirus case detected in Lebanon: Health Ministry
May 08, 2014 06:53 PM (Last updated: May 08, 2014 07:13 PM)
The Daily Star
Coronaviruses as viewed under an electron microscope. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
BEIRUT: The first coronavirus case was detected in Lebanon, a spokesperson of the Health Ministry confirmed to The Daily Star Thursday.
"We can confirm that first coronavirus case was detected at one of the Lebanese hospitals but we cannot disclose the name of the hospital at the moment," the spokesperson who spoke on condition of anonymity told The Daily Star.
Earlier, Health Minister Wael Abu Faour gave an order to activate scanners to detect cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus among travelers arriving at Beirut airpot.
“All the suspected cases at the hospitals and after conducting the necessary tests show that so far there is no trace of Corona in Lebanon," Abu Faour told reporters after a tour of Rafik Hariri International Airport.
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)
This next story - translated from the Arabic - while a bit syntax-challenged, appeared online shortly before the one above.
Abu Faour announces record first coronavirus in Lebanon
Thursday 08 may 2014, last updated 18: 51
Health Minister Wael Abu Faour "in terms of transparency towards the public, responsibility and concern for the safety and health of the Lebanese, was on the diagnosis of one case of a patient with HIV," SK ", was being treated in a hospital," pointing out that "the Ministry of health to make sure safety measures taken by the hospital and follow the scientific assets in prevention and treatment, leading to a significant improvement in the health of the patient as he was allowed to leave the hospital."
He said in a statement that "the Ministry of public health is following epidemiological investigations and surveillance, to ensure that no epidemic in Lebanon, and urged medical and nursing and health institutions not to compromise in taking maximum precautionary measures and inform the surveillance program for any suspected case of follow-up".
The Ministry of public health of the citizens, "there is no reason to fear", calling them "take countermeasures for prevention of respiratory disease, with cases in some countries of the world, came from the Arab Gulf States, did not lead to the spread of the epidemic in these countries."
Public Health Minister toured Friday at Beirut International Airport, accompanied by Chairman of the parliamentary Health Committee Atef majdalani, was briefed on measures taken by quarantine team and teams of doctors and nurses from the Ministry at the airport, and instructed to run thermal surveillance cameras to monitor passengers show signs of high heat, it also considered the increase of the medical center of the Ministry, in addition to medical staff now includes 8 doctors, 16 nurses.
