Two deaths among four new Mers cases in Middle East
The World Health Organisation has received reports of four new cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, also known as Mers, resulting in two deaths in the region.
The Saudi Ministry of Health, in its semi-annual update on the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MersCov), disclosed four confirmed cases in Riyadh and in the Eastern and Qassim regions of the kingdom.
The fatalities occurred between October 19 and December 24 last year.
The two men and two women, aged 59 to 93, had underlying health conditions.
Symptoms including fever, coughing and shortness of breath were observed in each of the cases, with the latest infection reported to authorities on October 26.
Despite the deaths in the kingdom, the WHO has not changed its overall public health guidelines for Mers.
The virus is known to spread among dromedary camels, posing a higher risk to people who work closely with these animals, especially those with pre-existing medical conditions.
One of the recent cases was a camel owner, and another had a history of indirect contact with dromedary camels as their relatives were owners.
The other two cases had no clear history of exposure to known risk factors, nor had they consumed raw camel milk in the 14 days before the onset of symptoms.
There are no known epidemiological links among the cases, and no secondary cases of the virus have been identified.
The camels in contact with the infected humans did not show symptoms of the virus. Advice has been issued around the world to educate travellers to the region on the risks associated with direct contact with the animals.
In Hong Kong, the government’s Centre for Health Protection advised tour operators to restrict camel rides for tourists.
“We will maintain close communication with the WHO and relevant health authorities,” a CHP spokesman said.
“As countries in the Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia, continue to report Mers cases from time to time, travellers should refrain from going to farms, barns or markets with camels and avoid contact with sick persons and animals, especially camels, birds or poultry.”
Since the first Saudi report of Mers in 2012, a total of 2,609 cases have been diagnosed, including 939 deaths.
Of all known cases of Mers since 2012, 36 per cent of patients died.