MERS case confirmed in Selangor

> Patient had drunk raw camel milk while visiting farm in Mecca

PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry has confirmed a case of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERSCoV) infection following investigations and diagnosis on a 55-year-old man.

In a statement yesterday, Health Director-General Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said a laboratory test conducted on a sample belonging to the patient from Selangor tested positive for the disease.

“Investigations revealed that the patient had just returned to the country on Dec 23 after performing the umrah.”

“He had displayed symptoms such as fever, cough, weakness throughout the body, fatigue and leg pain. The patient had sought treatment at a clinic near his home, where he received treatment for fever.

“On Dec 28, he went to the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang and was subsequently admitted for further examination and treatment.”

Following the discovery that he had just returned from performing the umrah, Noor Hisham said an MERS-CoV screening test was conducted on him at the Sungai Buloh Hospital on Dec 30.

“Subsequent tests conducted by the Institute for Medical Research on Sunday confirmed the case,” he said.

The patient is in a stable condition and has been referred to the Sungai Buloh Hospital for further treatment.

“The man said while in Mecca, he was taken to a camel farm, where he drank raw camel milk and came in contact with the camels at the farm,” he added.

The Health Ministry is monitoring the situation on MERS-CoV infections that were reported by the World Health Organisation and has issued a health advisory for pilgrims to take preventive measures against the disease during their stay in Mecca and after returning to Malaysia.

“The ministry is making efforts to prevent further spread of the disease and has undertaken containment measures.

“This includes detecting and monitoring those who had close contact with the patient such as family members, fellow pilgrims in the same group, healthcare professionals who had treated him as well as those who came in contact with him on the flight he took,” he said.

More information on the disease is available at http://www.moh.gov.my or at the National Crisis Preparedness Response Centre Facebook page.