#14,021
The Saudi MOH has reported two new primary MERS cases (yesterday & today), and for the first time in several weeks has listed a primary case (in Taif) as having recent camel contact.
Although the number of MERS cases reported by KSA has dropped during epi week #16, a primary case in Taif - which is about 40 miles east of Mecca - just two weeks before the start of Ramadan, is a concern.I would also note there was some uncorroborated Arabic twitter traffic overnight - apparently prior to today's MOH announcement - of suspected MERS activity (كورونا) in Taif.
During all of 2018, Saudi Arabia reported a total of 137 MERS cases. In the first 109 days of 2019, they've already reported 134 cases.
Although a far cry from the explosive hospital outbreaks of 2014 and 2015 (see EMRO chart below), this is a substantial increase over what we've seen the past couple of years.
While we've not seen any indication of efficient or sustained transmission of the MERS virus in the community, the past few months has witnessed a noticeable uptick in the number of household and/or healthcare facility clusters.
While this might indicate a change in the virus's behavior, it is also possible that after two years of decreased MERS activity, the quality and consistency of MERS infection control in hospitals - and public's concerns over contact with camels - has diminished.
Constant vigilance is difficult to maintain, particularly when the threat appears to be in decline.The Holy month of Ramadan begins in just two weeks, when roughly 1 million religious pilgrims with make the journal to Mecca and other Holy sites to perform Umrah. In early August, two million more will arrive for the Hajj.
Hopefully awareness campaigns will ensure that MERS fatigue won't extend to these international travelers as well.
