During the month of November, a total of 8 laboratory-confirmed cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) were reported globally (all from Saudi Arabia), including 2 associated death, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) MERS Situation Report.

MERS/CDC
MERS/CDC

Officials say two of the cases were a secondary infection through household contact. The demographic and epidemiological characteristics of reported cases, when compared during the same corresponding period of 2013 to 2018, do not show any significant difference or change.

Owing to improved infection prevention and control practices in hospitals, the number of hospital-acquired cases of MERS has dropped significantly since 2015.

At the end of November 2018, a total of 2274 laboratory-confirmed cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), including 806 associated deaths (case–fatality rate: 35.4%) were reported globally; the majority of these cases were reported from Saudi Arabia (1896 cases, including 732 related deaths with a case–fatality rate of 38.6%).