#11,476
The World Health Organization has published a MERS Update today that covers a smattering of (n=6) MERS cases detected in Saudi Arabia between May 15th and June 15th.
Four of the six have co-morbidities and frequent contact with camels and/or camel products. Two others are are listed as `primary' community acquired cases, with no known risk exposure.
A fairly unremarkable group, except that the most recent case (#1 in the list) appears to be the index case of what is turning out to be a major household - and nosocomial - outbreak in Riyadh (the other possibility is case #5).
This 49 y.o. female was admitted to the hospital on the 10th, tested positive on the 12th, and was publicly announced on June 15th.
We've no other details other than over the past four days we've seen 22 additional cases announced as positive in Riyadh - 18 of which appear to be due to nosocomial transmission.
Between 15 May and 15 June 2016, the National IHR Focal Point for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia notified WHO of 6 additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection, including 1 death.
Details of the cases
Globally, since September 2012, WHO has been notified of 1,739 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV, including at least 629 related deaths.
- A 49-year-old female from Buridah city developed symptoms on 9 June and was admitted to a hospital on 10 June. She tested positive for MERS-CoV on 12 June. The patient has comorbidities. Investigation of history of exposure to the known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms is ongoing. Currently she is in critical condition admitted to ICU.
- A 68-year-old male from Madinah city developed symptoms on 8 June and was admitted to a hospital on 13 June. He tested positive for MERS-CoV on 15 June. The patient has comorbidities and a history of frequent consumption of raw camel milk. He has no history of exposure to the other known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms. Currently the patient is in stable condition admitted to a negative pressure isolation room on a ward. The Ministry of Agriculture was informed and investigation of camels is also ongoing.
- A 54-year-old male from Alkharj city developed symptoms on 7 June and was admitted to a hospital on 11 June. He tested positive for MERS-CoV on 13 June. The patient has comorbidities and a history of frequent contact with camels and consumption of their raw milk. He has no history of exposure to the other known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms. Currently the patient is in stable condition admitted to a negative pressure isolation room on a ward. The Ministry of Agriculture was informed and investigation of camels is also ongoing.
- A 59-year-old male from Tabuk city developed symptoms on 1 June and was admitted to a hospital on 6 June. The patient tested positive for MERS-CoV on 8 June. The patient had comorbidities and a history of frequent contact with camels and consumption of their raw milk. He had no history of exposure to the other known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms. The patient passed away on 12 June. The Ministry of Agriculture was informed and investigation of camels is also ongoing.
- An 85-year-old female from Riyadh city developed symptoms on 27 May and was admitted to a hospital on 1 June. A nasopharyngeal swab was collected on 1 June and tested positive for MERS-CoV on 2 June. The patient has comorbidities. 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 admitted to a negative pressure isolation room on a ward.
- A 72-year-old male from Hail city developed symptoms on 8 May and was admitted to a hospital in Riyadh on 12 May. The patient tested positive for MERS-CoV on 14 May. The patient has comorbidities and a history of frequent contact with camels and consumption of their raw milk. He has no history of exposure to the other known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms. Currently the patient is in stable condition admitted to a negative pressure isolation room on a ward. The Ministry of Agriculture was informed and investigation of camels has been performed.
