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Following an unusually active spring, Saudi MERS reports declined sharply over the summer, only to begin an uptick in early October. So far in November, we've seen 9 cases reported, which builds on the 14 cases reported last month.
Of course, these numbers only reflect laboratory confirmed cases, and it is likely that a substantial number of mild and/or asymptomatic cases evade detection (see EID Journal: Estimation of Severe MERS Cases in the Middle East, 2012–2016).Once a month the WHO's EMRO (Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office) provides a summary of MERS activity in the Middle East - and around the world - based on what is officially reported by individual Ministries of Health to the World Health Organization.
WHO EMRO reports 14 new MERS Cases - 13 from Saudi Arabia and 1 from the UAE - during the month of October Among these, 1 Healthcare worker was infected.Details of the October summary report follow:
MERS situation update, October 2019
- At the end of October 2019, a total of 2482 laboratory-confirmed cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), including 854 associated deaths (case–fatality rate: 34.4%) were reported globally; the majority of these cases were reported from Saudi Arabia (2090 cases, including 776 related deaths with a case–fatality rate of 37.1%).
- During the month of October, a total of 14 laboratory-confirmed cases of MERS were reported globally. 13 of the cases were reported from Saudi Arabia with 3 associated deaths and 1 case was reported from United Arab Emirates. One healthcare worker was also infected this month while providing care for a case. No other cluster of cases was reported this month. Two of the cases had their symptom onset in September. The 3 deaths reported were within the 70-79 age group.
- The demographic and epidemiological characteristics of reported cases, when compared during the same corresponding period of 2014 to 2019, do not show any significant difference or change. The number of cases reported in this period was less than all other corresponding periods.
- The age group 50–59 years continues to be at the highest risk for acquiring infection of primary cases. The age group 30–39 years is most at risk for secondary cases. The number of deaths is higher in the age group 50–59 years for primary cases and 70–79 years for secondary cases. Read the latest MERS update for October 2019
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