Saudi MOH Reports Two More MERS Cases In Hafuf

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For the past six weeks we've been following a growing cluster of MERS cases from the town of Hafuf (aka `Hafoof') that appears to have started when the the index case - a 61 year-old male - fell ill on April 16th.  He is reported to have a history of contact with camels.

As of Saturday, that cluster stood at 18.  

Today the MOH is reporting two new cases from Hufoof (aka `Hafuf'). The circumstances of infection are not listed, but it seems probable they are linked to the other 18 cases.

In a related development the World Health Organization has released details on two of the Hafuf cases, both of whom were hospitalized with other conditions and subsequently tested positive for the virus.

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Saudi Arabia 

Disease outbreak news 1 June 2015 

Between 24 and 25 May 2015, the National IHR Focal Point for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia notified WHO of 2 additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection, including 1 death.
Details of the cases are as follows:

• A 71-year-old, non-national male from Hofuf city developed symptoms on 21 May while admitted to hospital since 10 May due to an unrelated medical condition. The patient tested positive for MERS-CoV on 24 May. Investigation of history of exposure to the known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms is ongoing. Currently, the patient is in stable condition in a negative pressure isolation room on a ward.

• A 68-year-old female from Hofuf city was admitted to a cardiac centre on 13 May complaining of chest pain and fever. On 20 May, while hospitalized, the patient developed shortness of breath. She tested positive for MERS-CoV on 23 May and passed away on 25 May. The patient had comorbidities. Her family owns sheep and camels. An investigation of history of exposure to these animals and to other known risk factors in the 14 days prior to onset of symptoms is ongoing.

Contact tracing of household contacts and healthcare contacts is ongoing for these cases. 

The National IHR Focal Point for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia also notified WHO of the death of 2 previously reported MERS-CoV cases. The cases were reported in previous DONs on 25 May (case n. 1) and on 17 May (case n. 1).