New MERS-CoV Cases Reported in Arabia and UAE

Saudi respiratory syndrome crown virus (MERS-CoV) infect more people

Disease Outbreak News: Jan. 26, 2016

The National IHR Focal Point for Saudi Arabia has notified WHO of 138 additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection including about 30 deaths [Sept 2015 – Jan 2016].

• The cases were reported in various cities including Madinah, Bisha, Aloyoun, Onizah, Najran, Alqweiyha, Buridah, Jeddah and Riyadh.

• Many of the victims are females, including several non-national health workers, in the 21 – 30 age range.

The National IHR Focal Point of the United Arab Emirates has notified WHO of 2 additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection, including 1 death.

• Both cases were reported in Abu Dhabi.

Thailand has confirmed MERS-CoV disease in a traveler, the second such case in the country in the last seven months.

• A man from Oman, who arrived in Bangkok, Thailand for treatment on 22 January, and was admitted to a private hospital, tested positive for MERS-CoV.

Globally, since September 2012, WHO has been notified of 1,632 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV, including at least 587 related deaths.

The first confirmed case of the MERS-CoV infection was reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012. It’s believed that the virus has been present in bats for several decades and had spread to camels by early 1990s. The virus seems to have spread from camels to humans in 2010.

 

Countries with Confirmed MERS-CoV

To date, 26 countries have reported cases of deadly infection, with Saudi Arabia accounting for more than 85 percent of all cases:

• Middle East: Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia , United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

• Africa: Algeria, and Tunisia; in Europe: Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

• Asia: China, the Republic of Korea , Malaysia Philippines and Thailand.

• North America: The United States of America

Key Facts [WHO]

• Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus (MERS‐CoV) that was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012.

• Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause diseases ranging from the common cold to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

• Typical MERS symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Pneumonia is common, but not always present. Gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhoea, have also been reported.

• Approximately 36% of reported patients with MERS have died.

• Although the majority of human cases of MERS have been attributed to human-to-human infections, camels are likely to be a major reservoir host for MERS-CoV and an animal source of MERS infection in humans. However, the exact role of camels in transmission of the virus and the exact route(s) of transmission are unknown.

• The virus does not seem to pass easily from person to person unless there is close contact, such as occurs when providing unprotected care to a patient.

Symptoms [WHO]

The clinical spectrum of MERS-CoV infection ranges from no symptoms (asymptomatic) or mild respiratory symptoms to severe acute respiratory disease and death. A typical presentation of MERS-CoV disease is fever, cough and shortness of breath. Pneumonia is a common finding, but not always present. Gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhoea, have also been reported. Severe illness can cause respiratory failure that requires mechanical ventilation and support in an intensive care unit. Approximately 36% of reported patients with MERS-CoV have died. The virus appears to cause more severe disease in older people, people with weakened immune systems, and those with chronic diseases such as cancer, chronic lung disease and diabetes.

Source of the virus [WHO]

MERS-CoV is a zoonotic virus that is transmitted from animals to humans. The origins of the virus are not fully understood but, according to the analysis of different virus genomes, it is believed that it originated in bats and was transmitted to camels sometime in the distant past.

Related Links

• MERS Alert in S.K: 1,200 Schools Closed, 1,600 People Quarantined June 4, 2015
• MERS Deaths Surge to 282 in Saudi Arabia  June 4, 2014
• MERS Infection Kills More People  May 17, 2014
• Saudi MERS Death Toll Reaches 102 April 28, 2014

ZIKV: CDC Adds Two More Countries to Travel Warning List

ZIKV outbreaks spreading in Dominican Republic and US Virgin Islands

The Dominican Republic and the US Virgin Islands have been added to the list of countries that pregnant women should avoid traveling to as the ZIKV outbreaks spread.

The current travel warning list now includes 24 countries throughout the Americas, Oceania/ Pacific Islands and Africa.

Countries and territories with active Zika virus transmission

• AMERICAS: Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican, Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Saint Martin, Suriname, U.S. Virgin Islands, Venezuela

• OCEANIA/PACIFIC ISLANDS: Samoa

• AFRICA: Cape Verde

Countries and territories with active Zika virus transmission. Prior to 2015, Zika virus outbreaks have occurred in areas of Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. In May 2015, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) issued an alert regarding the first confirmed Zika virus infections in Brazil. Currently, outbreaks are occurring in at least 24 countries.

ZIKV Hot Spots

Current ZIKV Hot Spots include Brazil and Colombia and Panama, according to FIRE-EARTH Models.

Countries that have past or current evidence of Zika virus transmission

AMERICAS: Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Suriname and Venezuela.

OCEANIA/PACIFIC ISLANDS: Cook Islands, Easter Island, Federated States of Micronesia, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

ASIA: Cambodia, India*, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan*, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam*.

AFRICA: Angola*, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt*, Ethiopia*, Gabon, Gambia*, Kenya*, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone*, Somalia*, Tanzania*, Uganda and Zambia*.

[*For these countries, the only evidence of Zika virus transmission is from studies that detected Zika virus antibodies in healthy people.  These studies cannot determine where the people were infected or if they were infected with Zika virus because the antibodies may have resulted from infections with other closely related viruses, such as dengue virus.]