The World Health Organization (WHO) released details on the latest cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection reported from four countries: South Korea, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar on Sunday and the information is presented as follows:
South Korea
On 20 May 2015, the National IHR Focal Point of the Republic of Korea notified WHO of the first laboratory confirmed case of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection. On 21 May, two additional confirmed cases were reported.
Details of the cases are as follows:
The first case is a 68 year-old male with the following travel history: 18-29 April, Bahrain; 29-30 April, United Arab Emirates; 30 April to 1 May, Bahrain; 1-2 May, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 2 May, Bahrain; and 2-3 May, Qatar. The patient arrived at Korea’s Incheon International airport via Qatar on 4 May. He was asymptomatic on arrival. The patient developed symptoms on 11 May and sought medical care at a clinic from 12 May to 15 May on an outpatient basis. He was then admitted to hospital on 15 May and discharged on 17 May. On the evening of discharge, the patient visited the emergency department of another hospital. A sputum sample tested positive for MERS-CoV on 20 May, whereupon he was transferred to the nationally designated treatment facility for isolation. The patient has no history of exposure to known risk factors in the 14 days prior to detection. Investigation of the source of infection is ongoing.
The two additional cases were laboratory-confirmed for MERS-CoV on 21 May. One is a household contact. The other is a patient who shared the same hospital room with the first case. Currently, all three patients are in stable condition.
Contact tracing of household contacts and healthcare contacts is ongoing for the cases.
Saudi Arabia
Between 11 and 13 May, the National IHR Focal Point for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia notified WHO of 12 additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection, including 2 deaths.
Details of the cases are as follows:
- A 66-year-old male from Qunfuthah city developed symptoms on 12 May while admitted to hospital since 3 May due to an unrelated medical condition. A nasopharyngeal swab tested positive for MERS-CoV on 14 May. The patient has a history of frequent contact with camels and sheep as well as consumption of raw camel milk. He has no history of exposure to other known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms. Currently, the patient is in stable condition in a negative pressure isolation room on a ward.
- A 31-year-old male from Hafouf city developed symptoms on 4 May and was admitted to hospital on the same day. A nasopharyngeal swab tested positive for MERS-CoV on 13 May. The patient is a smoker and has no comorbid conditions. He has a history of contact with two laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV cases that were reported in previous DONs on 17 May (case n. 4) and on 29 April (case n. 2). The patient has a history of frequent contact with camels and consumption of raw camel milk. He has no history of exposure to other known risk factors in the 14 days prior to onset of symptoms. Currently, the patient is in stable condition in a negative pressure isolation room on a ward.
- A 36-year-old male from Jeddah city developed symptoms on 10 May and was admitted to hospital on the same day. A nasopharyngeal swab tested positive for MERS-CoV on 11 May. The patient has no comorbidities. He has a history of contact with a laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV case that was reported in a previous DON on 17 May (case n. 3). The patient has no history of exposure to other known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms. Currently, the patient is in stable condition in a negative pressure isolation room on a ward.
- A 46-year-old, non-national male from Riyadh city developed symptoms on 25 April and was admitted to hospital on 9 May. A nasopharyngeal swab tested positive for MERS-CoV on 10 May. The patient has comorbidities. He has a history of frequent contact with camels and consumption of raw camel milk. The patient has no history of exposure to other known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms. Currently, he is in stable condition in a negative pressure isolation room on a ward.
- A 71-year-old male from Riyadh city developed symptoms on 3 May and was admitted to hospital on 6 May. A nasopharyngeal swab tested positive for MERS-CoV on 10 May. The patient has comorbidities. Investigation of history of exposure to known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms is ongoing.
- A 33-year-old, non-national male from Riyadh city developed symptoms on 1 May and was admitted to hospital on 7 May. A nasopharyngeal swab tested positive for MERS-CoV on 9 May. The patient has no comorbidities. Investigation of history of exposure to known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms is ongoing. Currently, the patient is in stable condition in a negative pressure isolation room on a ward.
- A 33-year-old, non-national male from Riyadh city developed symptoms on 1 May and was admitted to hospital on 6 May. A nasopharyngeal swab tested positive for MERS-CoV on 8 May. The patient had no comorbidities. He passed away on 14 May. Investigation of history of exposure to known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms is ongoing.
- A 74-year-old male from Taif city developed symptoms on 9 May while admitted to hospital since 28 April due to an unrelated medical condition. A nasopharyngeal swab tested positive for MERS-CoV on 10 May. The patient had comorbidities. He was admitted to the same ward and treated by the same health workers as a laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV case that was reported in a previous DON on 17 May (case n. 3). The patient had no history of exposure to other known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms. He passed away on 10 May.
- A 30-year-old female from Hafouf city developed symptoms on 4 May and was admitted to hospital on the same day. A nasopharyngeal swab tested positive for MERS-CoV on 10 May. The patient has no comorbidities. She has a history of contact with two laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV cases that were reported in previous DONs on 17 May (case n. 4) and on 29 April (case n. 2). The patient has no history of exposure to other known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms. Currently, she is in stable condition in a negative pressure isolation room on a ward.
- A 59-year-old female from Hafouf city developed symptoms on 4 May and was admitted to hospital on the same day. A nasopharyngeal swab tested positive for MERS-CoV on 10 May. The patient has comorbidities. She has a history of contact with two laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV cases that were reported in previous DONs on 17 May (case n. 4) and on 29 April (case n. 2). The patient has no history of exposure to other known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms. Currently, she is in stable condition in a negative pressure isolation room on a ward.
- A 24-year-old female from Hafouf city developed symptoms on 4 May and was admitted to hospital on the same day. A nasopharyngeal swab tested positive for MERS-CoV on 10 May. She has a history of contact with two laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV cases that were reported in previous DONs on 17 May (case n. 4) and on 29 April (case n. 2). The patient has no history of exposure to other known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms. Currently, she is in stable condition in a negative pressure isolation room on a ward.
- A 30-year-old male national from Hafouf city developed symptoms on 4 May and was admitted to hospital on the same day. A nasopharyngeal swab tested positive for MERS-CoV on 10 May. The patient has no comorbidities. He has a history of contact with two laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV cases that were reported in previous DONs on 17 May (case n. 4) and on 29 April (case n. 2). The patient has no history of exposure to other known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms. Currently, the patient is in stable condition in a negative pressure isolation room on a ward.
Contact tracing of household contacts and healthcare contacts is ongoing for these cases.
The National IHR Focal Point for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia also notified WHO of the death of 2 previously reported MERS-CoV cases. The cases were reported in previous DONs on 17 May (case n. 4) and on 29 April (case n. 2).
UAE
On 18 May 2015, the IHR National Focal Point of the United Arab Emirates notified WHO of 1 additional case of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection.
Details of the case are as follows:
The patient is a 33-year-old, non-national male from Al Ain. He has a history of contact with MERS-CoV infected camels imported from Oman (see DON of 18 May). A sputum sample tested positive for MERS-CoV on 17 May, whereupon the patient was admitted to hospital. He was asymptomatic at the time of laboratory testing. He has no comorbidities and no history of exposure to other known risk factors in the 14 days prior to detection. Currently, the case is still asymptomatic and in stable condition in a negative pressure room on a ward.
Contact tracing of household contacts and healthcare contacts is ongoing for the case. The National IHR Focal Point of the United Arab Emirates informed the National IHR Focal Point of Oman about this case. Investigation of human contacts of the MERS-CoV infected camels is ongoing in Oman.
Qatar
On 21 May 2015, the National IHR Focal Point of Qatar notified WHO of 1 additional case of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection
Details of the case are as follows:
A 29-year-old, non-national male from Doha developed symptoms on 15 May and sought medical advice at a primary health care center on 19 May, whereupon he was treated symptomatically and sent home with home isolation instructions. Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs tested positive for MERS-CoV on 20 May, whereupon the patient was admitted to hospital. He has no comorbidities. The patient has a history of frequent contact with camels but no consumption of raw camel milk. He has no history of exposure to other known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms. Currently, the patient is in stable condition in a negative pressure isolation room on a ward. Contact tracing of housMehold contacts and healthcare contacts is ongoing for the case.
Globally, WHO has been notified of 1135 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV, including at least 427 related deaths.
