10 Cases of MERS-CoV in Saudi Arabia are Reported to WHO

Between Feb. 23, 2015 and Feb. 25, 2015, the National IHR Focal Point for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of 10 additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection. Details of the cases are as follows:

1. A 56-year-old male from Afif city developed symptoms on Feb. 22 while admitted to a hospital since Feb. 2 due to unrelated medical conditions. On Feb. 17, the patient was admitted in the same ICU as a laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV case that was reported previously; however, he was not treated by the same healthcare workers. The patient was frequently visited by relatives and friends. Currently, he is in critical condition in ICU.

2. An 84-year-old male from Al-Oyuon city developed symptoms on Feb. 21 and was admitted to a hospital on Feb. 22. 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. Currently, the patient is in critical condition in ICU.

3. A 24-year-old female from Riyadh city developed symptoms on Feb. 19 while admitted to a hospital since Jan. 31 due to unrelated medical conditions. The patient was admitted to the same hospital as a laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV case that was reported previously; however, she was not treated by the same health workers and there is no epidemiological link with that case. The patient was frequently visited by relatives and friends. She 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 critical condition admitted to the ICU.

4. An 80-year-old male from Riyadh city developed symptoms on Feb. 21 while admitted to a hospital since Aug. 14, 2014 due to unrelated medical conditions. The patient was admitted to the same hospital as a laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV case that was reported previously; however, he had no direct contact with that case. The patient was frequently visited by relatives and friends. 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 critical condition in the ICU.

5. An 83-year-old male from Alrass city developed symptoms on Feb. 16 and was admitted to hospital on Feb. 17 but he discharged himself against medical advice on the same day. He traveled to Riyadh to seek another medical advice on Feb. 21 and was admitted to a hospital on the same day. He has 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 critical condition in the ICU.

6. A 75-year-old male from Riyadh city developed symptoms on Feb. 12 and was admitted to a hospital on Feb. 22. 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. Currently, the patient is in critical condition in the ICU.

7. A 45-year-old, non-national male from Najran city developed symptoms on Feb. 13 and was admitted to a hospital on Feb. 20. The patient has no comorbidities. He is a contact of a laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV case that was reported previously. 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 admitted to a negative pressure isolation room on a ward.

8. A 65-year-old, non-national female from Jeddah city developed symptoms on Feb. 17 and was admitted to a hospital on Feb. 22. The patient has comorbidities. She has no history of exposure to any of the known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms. Currently, the patient is in critical condition in the ICU.

9. A 50-year-old, non-national, male healthcare worker from Riyadh city developed symptoms on Feb. 13 and was admitted to a hospital on Feb. 20. The patient is a smoker but has no comorbidities. He treated a laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV case that was reported previously. 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 admitted to a negative pressure isolation room on a ward.

10. A 62-year-old, non-national, female healthcare worker from Riyadh city developed symptoms on Feb. 16 and was admitted to a hospital on Feb. 18. The patient has comorbidities. She treated a laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV case that was reported previously. 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 admitted to a negative pressure isolation room on a ward.

The National IHR Focal Point for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia also notified WHO of the death of two previously reported MERS-CoV cases. 

Contact tracing of household contacts and healthcare contacts is ongoing for these cases.

Globally, WHO has been notified of 1040 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV, including at least 383 related deaths.

Source: WHO