NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

A laboratory-confirmed case of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was reported in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) recently.

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) /CDC

According to a Disease Outbreak News release from the World Health Organization (WHO) this week, the case is a 60-year-old male from the Abu Dhabi region, UAE.

He developed fever, sore throat, shortness of breath, and a runny nose on 3 November and presented to hospital on 5 November. On 6 November, he was admitted to hospital where a computerized tomography (CT) scan confirmed the diagnosis of pneumonia. On 11 November, a nasopharyngeal swab was collected and tested positive for MERS-CoV by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). SARS-CoV-2 testing was also performed, and the results were negative.  The patient has diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia as co-morbidities. He owns a dromedary camel farm in Abu Dhabi and had a history of close contact with dromedary camels at his farm in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms. No travel history was reported during the same period. The patient has recovered and was discharged following two negative tests for MERS-CoV.

This is the 93rd MERS-CoV case reported from the UAE since July 2013.