An unexplained death at a Russian plague research institute has prompted international scrutiny. The incident raises questions about laboratory safety, transparent reporting, and infection prevention preparedness while the cause remains unconfirmed.
|Articles|June 12, 2015
Eight Cases of MERS-CoV in Saudi Arabia are Reported to WHO
Between June 5 and June 8, 2015, the National IHR Focal Point for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of eight additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection
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Between June 5 and June 8, 2015, the National IHR Focal Point for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of eight additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection. Details of the cases are as follows:
1. A 72-year-old male from Hofuf city developed symptoms on May 20. The patient, who has comorbidities, was admitted to hospital on May 23. He tested positive for MERS-CoV on June 8. Currently, the patient is in critical condition in ICU. Investigation of history of exposure to known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms is ongoing.
2. A 56-year-old male from Hofuf city developed symptoms on June 1. On June 4, he was admitted to a hospital in Hofuf city that had been experiencing a MERS-CoV outbreak. The patient, who has comorbidities, tested positive for MERS-CoV on June 5. Currently, he is in stable condition in a negative pressure isolation room on a ward. Investigation of history of exposure to known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms is ongoing.
3. A 65-year-old male from Hofuf city developed symptoms on May 27. On June 2, he was admitted to a hospital in Hofuf city that had been experiencing a MERS-CoV outbreak. The patient, who has comorbidities, tested positive for MERS-CoV on June 4. Currently, he is in critical condition in the ICU. Investigation of history of exposure to known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms is ongoing.
4. A 58-year-old non-national, male from Riyadh city developed symptoms on 30 May and was admitted to hospital on June 4. The patient, who has comorbidities, tested positive for MERS-CoV on June 5. Currently, he is in critical condition in ICU. Investigation of history of exposure to known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms is ongoing.
5. A 55-year-old, non-national male from Asfan town developed symptoms on May 31. On June 3, he was admitted to a hospital in Hofuf city that had been experiencing a MERS-CoV outbreak. The patient, who has comorbidities, tested positive for MERS-CoV on June 4. He has a history of frequent contact with camels and sheep as well as consumption of their raw 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 critical condition in the ICU.
6. A 29-year-old, male health professional from Hofuf city developed symptoms on June 2. On June 3, he was admitted to a hospital in Hofuf city that had been experiencing a MERS-CoV outbreak. The patient, who has no comorbidities, tested positive for MERS-CoV on June 4. Between May 10 and May 23, he provided care to a laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV patient 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 in a negative pressure isolation room on a ward.
7. A 41-year-old male from Hofuf city developed symptoms on June 1 and was admitted to hospital on the same day. He works as a security guard at a healthcare facility that has been experiencing a MERS-CoV outbreak in Hofuf city. The patient, who has comorbidities, tested positive for MERS-CoV on June 4. He has a history of contact with a laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV patient 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 in a negative pressure isolation room on a ward.
8. A 58-year-old female from Hofuf city developed symptoms on June 1. On the same day, she was admitted to a hospital in Hofuf city that had been experiencing a MERS-CoV outbreak. The patient, who has comorbidities, tested positive for MERS-CoV on June 4. Currently, she is in stable condition in a negative pressure isolation room on a ward. Investigation of history of exposure to known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms is ongoing.
Contact tracing of household and healthcare contacts is ongoing for these cases.
Globally, since September 2012, WHO has been notified of 1,227 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV, including at least 449 related deaths.
Source: WHO
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