Saudi Arabia detects 7 more MERS cases; Jordan reports death

Wednesday, May 7, 2014
By Paul Martin

Lisa Schnirring and Robert Roos
CIDRAP News
May 06, 2014

Saudi Arabia’s health ministry today reported seven more MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus) cases in its latest hot spots, while Jordan reported a death from the disease.

Also, an expert on the disease who just spent a week in Saudi Arabia said testing practices in the country may explain some of the recent gush of cases, and a global animal health group commented on the latest research findings in camels, saying the studies have provided significant breakthroughs in understanding but that more work is needed to definitively say they are the primary source of the virus in humans.

Meanwhile, officials at the Indiana hospital that’s caring for the first MERS case-patient in the United States said today that he is continuing to recover and that they are working on discharge plans for him.

Saudi count grows by 7
The Saudi cases were reported in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Medina. The patients are adults aged 26 to 68 years, according to a statement today from the country’s health ministry. Five are women, and two are men.

Two patients are asymptomatic, two are listed in stable condition, and two are hospitalized in intensive care units (ICUs). Hospitalization dates range from Mar 28 through Apr 10. Three of the patients have underlying medical conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.

Three of the patients had been in contact with confirmed cases, but the health ministry didn’t specify if any of them were healthcare workers. No exposure to camels or animal environments was listed for any of the patients.

The Rest…HERE

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