Germany’s Robert Koch Institut has reported (computer translated) their third imported Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) since 2012 in a German resident who traveled to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Germany/CIA
Germany/CIA

The 65-year-old local national is currently being treated at a hospital in Lower Saxony. Close contacts are being monitored, but since MERS-CoV is not easily transmissible person to person, health officials say there is no increased risk of disease in the general population.

Germany reported imported cases in 2012 and 2013 and one was a fatalities. These patients were transferred to Germany for care.

Other European countries that have reported imported MERS cases include the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, Austria and Turkey.

On the Arabian Peninsula, Qatari Supreme Council of Health announced the 11th MERS case in a 69-year-old citizen (computer translated). Health officials say showed symptoms of high temperature and cough with sore throat has been admitted to the hospital. The initial diagnosis was pneumonia and later confirmed  positive for MERS-CoV.

The patient did not travel outside the country; however, did have contact with camels.

According to the World Health Organization, they were notified of 1040 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV, according to a Mar. 6 Global Alert and Response (GAR). The vast majority of cases have been reported from Saudi Arabia.

 

 

Qatar/CIA
Qatar/CIA