Gert van der Hoek
In Memoriam - Editor, Senior Moderator
WHO
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) ? Qatar
Disease outbreak news
31 October 2014
On 12 and 23 October 2014, WHO was notified by the National IHR Focal Point of Qatar of 2 cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). These are the first cases reported to WHO by Qatar in 2014.
Details of the case are as follows:
A 71-year-old male from Doha, Qatar developed symptoms on 1 October while traveling with three family members by car from Qatar to the Al-Hasa Region of Saudi Arabia. On 7 October, as his symptoms worsened, the case visited a private health facility in Al-Hasa, whereupon he was transferred to the Hamad General Hospital in Doha. On 11 October, laboratory tests conducted on the patient confirmed MERS-CoV infection. The case owns a camel barn and is known to have consumed raw camel milk. . The patient has comorbidities and is currently in critical condition.
A 43-year-old male from Doha developed symptoms on 14 October. On 17 and 18 October, he sought care at a health care facility but was not admitted. On 20 October, his condition deteriorated, he was admitted to hospital, and was confirmed positive for MERS-CoV infection on the same day. The patient presented with no comorbidities but he had frequently visited a camel barn in the 14 days that preceded the onset of symptoms. There is no history of exposure to other known risk factors. Currently, the patient is in stable condition.
Public health response
Household and healthcare contacts of the two cases have been identified and are being followed up. Currently, none of these contacts is symptomatic. Health education messages about appropriate preventive measures have been shared with the household contacts of the two patients. Infection prevention and control measures in all health facilities have been re-enforced by Qatar?s Supreme Council of Health (SCH). Furthermore, the SCH, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, is investigating the camels in the two barns.
Globally, WHO has received notification of 885 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV, including at least 319 related deaths.
More: WHO
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) ? Qatar
Disease outbreak news
31 October 2014
On 12 and 23 October 2014, WHO was notified by the National IHR Focal Point of Qatar of 2 cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). These are the first cases reported to WHO by Qatar in 2014.
Details of the case are as follows:
A 71-year-old male from Doha, Qatar developed symptoms on 1 October while traveling with three family members by car from Qatar to the Al-Hasa Region of Saudi Arabia. On 7 October, as his symptoms worsened, the case visited a private health facility in Al-Hasa, whereupon he was transferred to the Hamad General Hospital in Doha. On 11 October, laboratory tests conducted on the patient confirmed MERS-CoV infection. The case owns a camel barn and is known to have consumed raw camel milk. . The patient has comorbidities and is currently in critical condition.
A 43-year-old male from Doha developed symptoms on 14 October. On 17 and 18 October, he sought care at a health care facility but was not admitted. On 20 October, his condition deteriorated, he was admitted to hospital, and was confirmed positive for MERS-CoV infection on the same day. The patient presented with no comorbidities but he had frequently visited a camel barn in the 14 days that preceded the onset of symptoms. There is no history of exposure to other known risk factors. Currently, the patient is in stable condition.
Public health response
Household and healthcare contacts of the two cases have been identified and are being followed up. Currently, none of these contacts is symptomatic. Health education messages about appropriate preventive measures have been shared with the household contacts of the two patients. Infection prevention and control measures in all health facilities have been re-enforced by Qatar?s Supreme Council of Health (SCH). Furthermore, the SCH, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, is investigating the camels in the two barns.
Globally, WHO has received notification of 885 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV, including at least 319 related deaths.
More: WHO