The World Health Organization (WHO) published the following update on the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) situation in Saudi Arabia:
Between 16 September and 10 October 2016 the National IHR Focal Point of Saudi Arabia seven (7) additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) including one (1) fatal case.
Details of the cases
- A 28-year-old male non-national living in Hail city, Hail Region. He developed symptoms on 5 October and was admitted to hospital on 8 October. The patient who has no comorbidities, tested positive for MERS-CoV on 9 October. Investigation of history of exposure to the known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms is ongoing. Currently the patient is in stable condition admitted to a negative pressure room on a ward.
- A 51-year-old female national living in Alkharj city, Riyadh Region. She developed symptoms on 22 September and was admitted to hospital on 27 September. The patient who has comorbidities, tested positive for MERS-CoV on 29 September. She has a history of contact with camels in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms. Currently the patient is in stable condition admitted to a negative pressure room on a ward. Ministry of Agriculture has been informed and investigation of camels is ongoing.
- A 52-year-old male national living in Wadi Ad-Dwaser city, Riyadh Region. He developed symptoms on 12 September and was admitted to hospital on 19 September. The patient who has comorbidities, tested positive for MERS-CoV on 22 September. Investigation of history of exposure to the known risk factors in the 14 days prior to onset of symptoms is ongoing. Currently the patient is in critical condition admitted to ICU but not on mechanical ventilation.
- A 43-year-old male non-national living in Riyadh city, Riyadh Region. He developed symptoms on 15 September and was admitted to hospital on 22 September. He tested positive for MERS-CoV on the same day. The patient has no comorbid conditions. Investigation of history of exposure to the known risk factors prior to the onset of symptoms in the 14 days is ongoing. Currently the patient is in stable condition admitted to a negative pressure room on a ward.
- A 78-year-old female national and living in Skaka city, Aljouf Region. She developed symptoms on 16 September and was admitted to hospital on 18 September. The patient who has comorbidities, tested positive for MERS-CoV on 20 September. She has a history of contact with camels and consumption of their raw milk in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms. Currently the patient is in stable condition admitted to a negative pressure room on a ward. Ministry of Agriculture has been informed and investigation of camels is ongoing.
- A 50-year-old male national living in Shaqra city, Riyadh Region. He developed symptoms on 11 September and was admitted to hospital on 15 September. The patient who has comorbidities, tested positive for MERS-CoV on 16 September. He has a history of contact with camels and consumption of their raw milk in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms. Currently the patient is in stable condition admitted to a negative pressure room on a ward. Ministry of Agriculture has been informed and investigation of camels is ongoing.
- A 70-year-old male national living in Hail city, Hail Region. He developed symptoms on 8 September and was admitted to a hospital on 13 September. The patient who has comorbidities, tested positive for MERS-CoV on 15 September. Investigation of history of exposure to the known risk factors is ongoing. The patient was in stable condition admitted to a negative pressure room on a ward but his conditions deteriorated and he passed away on 27 September, 2016.
Contact tracing of household and healthcare contacts is ongoing for these cases.
Globally, since September 2012, WHO has been notified of 1813 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV including at least 645 related deaths have been reported to WHO.
According to the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health, as of Oct 29, the kingdom has seen 1470 MERS cases, including 615 deaths.
