Saudi MOH Announces 2 More MERS Cases

#14,095

Over the last four epidemiological weeks (#18, #19, #20 & #21) the Saudi MOH has reported an average of only 2 MERS infections per week, a far cry from the double-digit weekly tallies from earlier this spring.

Epi week #22 has started off strong, however, with 6 new cases reported over the past 3 days (see Sunday & Monday reports). 

Today the MOH reports the 5th and 6th cases of epi week #22, which includes the 7th case reported from Riyadh during the month of May.

• A 64 y.o. male from Riyadh, listed as `primary with camel contact'
• A 26 y.o. male from Buraidah, listed as `primary' with unknown camel contact

Unlike three of the last four cases reported this week, both of these patients are apparently still living.

With the Holy month of Ramadan coming to an end next week, hundreds of thousands of religious pilgrims will returning to their home countries over the coming days.

While exported cases of MERS remain remarkably few in number, public health agencies around the world will be on heightened alert for any signs of illness among returnees from the Middle East.