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july 27, 2015
Manchester A&E unit shut over suspected Mers outbreak
A suspected outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome temporarily shut a hospital's A&E unit in Manchester.
Two patients were tested for the condition which led to the closure of the emergency department at the Royal Infirmary, the hospital said.
A spokesman said the patients had been isolated for treatment and there was "no significant risk to public health".
Test results are being awaited but the NHS Trust involved confirmed the A&E department had since reopened.
A hospital spokesman said: "Both patients have been isolated for ongoing clinical treatment and management of their condition.
"One patient has now been relocated to North Manchester General."
Manchester A&E unit shut over suspected Mers outbreak
A suspected outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome temporarily shut a hospital's A&E unit in Manchester.
Two patients were tested for the condition which led to the closure of the emergency department at the Royal Infirmary, the hospital said.
A spokesman said the patients had been isolated for treatment and there was "no significant risk to public health".
Test results are being awaited but the NHS Trust involved confirmed the A&E department had since reopened.
A hospital spokesman said: "Both patients have been isolated for ongoing clinical treatment and management of their condition.
"One patient has now been relocated to North Manchester General."
Analysis by James Gallagher, health editor, BBC News
Mers is certainly a deadly and dangerous virus.
An outbreak in South Korea affected 186 people and led to 36 deaths. Out of the four cases seen in the UK, three died.
However, lift your finger off the panic button.
Firstly, suspected cases are relatively common. Since the last confirmed case in the UK more than two years ago, 314 people have been tested for suspected Mers and all were negative.
The virus struggles to spread from person to person. It needs very close contact and the primary threat is to family members and hospital staff, not the general public.
Mers is certainly a deadly and dangerous virus.
An outbreak in South Korea affected 186 people and led to 36 deaths. Out of the four cases seen in the UK, three died.
However, lift your finger off the panic button.
Firstly, suspected cases are relatively common. Since the last confirmed case in the UK more than two years ago, 314 people have been tested for suspected Mers and all were negative.
The virus struggles to spread from person to person. It needs very close contact and the primary threat is to family members and hospital staff, not the general public.
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