Saudis confirm new MERS death
Source: Agencies |
June 23, 2013, Sunday
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SAUDI Arabia said another person had died of the SARS-like coronavirus MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) and six new cases were registered, as international experts said yesterday countries should standardize their approach to treating the disease.
These cases bring the total number infected worldwide to 70, with 39 having died since MERS was identified last year.
The experts meeting at the World Health Organisation's Cairo office said countries should enhance surveillance for acute respiratory illness, quickly investigate clusters of pneumonia and report confirmed or probable MERS cases within 24 hours.
"Fast and complete reporting of cases, with contact histories, clinical care and treatment outcomes in as much detail as possible, and collected in a uniform manner across countries, is necessary," they said.
An international team of doctors who investigated nearly two dozen cases in eastern Saudi Arabia found the new coronavirus has some striking similarities to SARS. Unlike SARS, though, scientists remain baffled as to the source of MERS.
Most of the cases so far have been in Saudi Arabia, where 55 people have been confirmed as having the disease, of whom 33 have died. The kingdom, birthplace of Islam, hosts millions of pilgrims each year for the annual haj pilgrimage.
The experts said in a statement after the meeting yesterday that countries hosting mass gatherings where MERS was a risk should develop specific plans, without giving details.
While the haj does not take place this year until October, many Muslim pilgrims from around the world are expected to head for Mecca next month during the fast of Ramadan.
As well as announcing the latest death, the Saudi Health Ministry said late on Friday a 41-year-old woman in Riyadh was in a stable condition with the disease, and that a 32-year-old with cancer was also being treated.
On Thursday, it confirmed four new cases, including three health workers, who have all recovered.
Researchers said Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS, is even more deadly than SARS and is easily transmitted in healthcare environments.
The disease can cause coughing, fever and pneumonia and has spread to France, Germany, Italy and Britain.
More than 60 case of what is now called MERS, including 38 deaths, has been recorded by the World Health Organization in the past year, mostly in Saudi Arabia.
So far, illness haven't spread as quickly as SARS did in 2003, ultimately triggering a global outbreak that killed about 800 people.
(Agencies)
These cases bring the total number infected worldwide to 70, with 39 having died since MERS was identified last year.
The experts meeting at the World Health Organisation's Cairo office said countries should enhance surveillance for acute respiratory illness, quickly investigate clusters of pneumonia and report confirmed or probable MERS cases within 24 hours.
"Fast and complete reporting of cases, with contact histories, clinical care and treatment outcomes in as much detail as possible, and collected in a uniform manner across countries, is necessary," they said.
An international team of doctors who investigated nearly two dozen cases in eastern Saudi Arabia found the new coronavirus has some striking similarities to SARS. Unlike SARS, though, scientists remain baffled as to the source of MERS.
Most of the cases so far have been in Saudi Arabia, where 55 people have been confirmed as having the disease, of whom 33 have died. The kingdom, birthplace of Islam, hosts millions of pilgrims each year for the annual haj pilgrimage.
The experts said in a statement after the meeting yesterday that countries hosting mass gatherings where MERS was a risk should develop specific plans, without giving details.
While the haj does not take place this year until October, many Muslim pilgrims from around the world are expected to head for Mecca next month during the fast of Ramadan.
As well as announcing the latest death, the Saudi Health Ministry said late on Friday a 41-year-old woman in Riyadh was in a stable condition with the disease, and that a 32-year-old with cancer was also being treated.
On Thursday, it confirmed four new cases, including three health workers, who have all recovered.
Researchers said Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS, is even more deadly than SARS and is easily transmitted in healthcare environments.
The disease can cause coughing, fever and pneumonia and has spread to France, Germany, Italy and Britain.
More than 60 case of what is now called MERS, including 38 deaths, has been recorded by the World Health Organization in the past year, mostly in Saudi Arabia.
So far, illness haven't spread as quickly as SARS did in 2003, ultimately triggering a global outbreak that killed about 800 people.
(Agencies)
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