Credit WHO
# 10,456
We’ve another lengthy WHO GAR update on the ongoing MERS outbreak in Saudi Arabia. Today’s update lists 13 cases recorded between August 22nd and August 23rd. Due to the length of this update, I’ve elected to briefly chart the cases (see spreadsheet below), rather than print the entire update.
Although 7 had direct contact with a known case, 5 appear to be the unlucky recipients of `collateral infection’ while admitted to, or visiting a local hospital. One case is listed as having no known risk exposure.
Three case are healthcare workers, but only one is described as having provided care to a known MERS case. As we’ve seen previously, the actual chain of transmission within hospitals is often unclear.
Follow the link below for the full details on this update.
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Saudi Arabia
Disease outbreak news
27 August 2015Between 22 and 23 August 2015, the National IHR Focal Point for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia notified WHO of 13 additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection. Twelve (12) of these reported cases are associated with a MERS-CoV outbreak currently occurring in a hospital in Riyadh city.
(SNIP DETAILS OF CASES)
Contact tracing of household 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 1 MERS-CoV case that was reported in a previous DON on 26 August (case no. 19).
Globally, since September 2012, WHO has been notified of 1,474 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV, including at least 515 related deaths.
