Friday, September 23, 2016

Saudi Arabia Reports 2 New MERS Cases














#11,760


Although the link on the Saudi MOH's website somewhat confusingly reads MOH: '4 New Confirmed Corona Cases Recorded', today's report only shows 2 new cases, and 1 recovery. 

Both cases are listed as `primary', which only tells us these cases had no known exposure to an identified MERS case or a recent visit to a health care facility. 

Since both cases are listed has having no recent camel exposure, we don't currently know how they may have acquired the virus.

Estimates suggest that only about 40% of Saudi cases are identified and isolated (see EID Journal: Estimation of Severe MERS Cases in the Middle East, 2012–2016), which leaves open the possibility of limited community transmission by unidentified cases.


http://www.moh.gov.sa/en/CCC/PressReleases/Pages/statistics-2016-09-23-001.aspx