Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Saudi Arabia
Disease outbreak news
9 September 2015
Between 1 and 5 September 2015, the National IHR Focal Point for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia notified WHO of 25 additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection. Ten (10) of these reported cases are associated with a MERS-CoV outbreak currently occurring in a hospital in Riyadh city.
Details of the cases
A 51-year-old, non-national male from Riyadh city developed symptoms on 30 August and, on 2 September, was admitted to hospital. The patient tested positive for MERS-CoV on 5 September. Currently, he is in stable condition in a negative pressure isolation room on a ward. In the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms, the patient frequently visited the hospital that has been experiencing a MERS-CoV outbreak due to his chronic conditions,. Investigation of possible epidemiological links with MERS-CoV cases in the hospital or with shared health care workers is ongoing. The patient has no history of exposure to other known risk factors in the 14 days prior to onset of symptoms.
A 61-year-old male from Riyadh city developed symptoms on 1 September and, on 4 September, was admitted to hospital. The patient, who has comorbidities, tested positive for MERS-CoV on 5 September. Currently, he is in stable condition in a negative pressure isolation room on a ward. Investigation of history of exposure to the known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms is ongoing.
A 45-year-old male from Riyadh city developed symptoms on 29 August and, on 3 September, was admitted to hospital. The patient, who has comorbidities, tested positive for MERS-CoV on 4 September. Currently, he is in critical condition in ICU. The patient has history of frequent contact with camels and consumption of their raw milk. He has no history of exposure to other known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms.
A 30-year-old male, non-national health care worker from Riyadh city developed symptoms on 3 September and, on the same day, was admitted to the hospital where he works. This hospital has been experiencing a MERS-CoV outbreak. The patient, who has no comorbidities, tested positive for MERS-CoV on 5 September. Currently, he is in stable condition in a negative pressure isolation room on a ward. Investigation of possible epidemiological links with MERS-CoV cases in the hospital is ongoing. The patient has no history of exposure to other known risk factors in the 14 days prior to onset of symptoms.
A 45-year-old male from Alkarj city developed symptoms on 1 September and, on 2 September, was admitted to hospital. The patient, who has no comorbidities, tested positive for MERS-CoV on 3 September. Currently, he is in stable condition in a negative pressure isolation room on a ward. Investigation of history of exposure to the known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms is ongoing.
A 24-year-old female, non-national health care worker from Riyadh city developed symptoms on 1 September and, on the same day, was admitted to the hospital where she works. This hospital has been experiencing a MERS-CoV outbreak. The patient, who has no comorbidities, tested positive for MERS-CoV on 3 September. Currently, she is in stable condition in home isolation. Investigation of possible epidemiological links with MERS-CoV cases in the hospital is ongoing. The patient has no history of exposure to other known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms.
A 76-year-old male from Riyadh city developed symptoms on 31 August while admitted to hospital due to chronic conditions since 9 August. This hospital has been experiencing a MERS-CoV outbreak. The patient tested positive for MERS-CoV on 2 September. Currently, he is in critical condition in ICU. Investigation of possible epidemiological links with MERS-CoV cases in the hospital or with shared health care workers is ongoing. The patient has no history of exposure to other known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms.
A 60-year-old female from Alnmas city developed symptoms on 31 August and, on 1 September, was admitted to hospital. The patient, who has comorbidities, tested positive for MERS-CoV on 3 September. Currently, she is in stable condition in a negative pressure isolation room on a ward. The patient is a contact of a laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV case (see DON published on 8 September – case no. 14). She has no history of exposure to other known risk factors in the 14 days prior to onset of symptoms.
A 65-year-old male from Alnmas city developed symptoms on 31 August and, on 1 September, was admitted to hospital. The patient, who has comorbidities, tested positive for MERS-CoV on 3 September. Currently, he is in stable condition in a negative pressure isolation room on a ward. The patient is a contact of a laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV case (see DON published on 8 September – case no. 14). He has no history of exposure to other known risk factors in the 14 days prior to onset of symptoms.
A 73-year-old male from Riyadh city developed symptoms on 2 September and, on the same day, was admitted to hospital. The patient, who has comorbidities, tested positive for MERS-CoV on 3 September. Currently, he is in critical condition in ICU. The patient has a history of frequent contact with camels and consumption of their raw milk. He has no history of exposure to other known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms.
A 46-year-old male from Najran city developed symptoms on 31 August and, on 1 September, was admitted to hospital. The patient, who has no comorbidities, tested positive for MERS-CoV on 2 September. Currently, he is in stable condition in a negative pressure isolation room on a ward. The patient is a contact of a laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV case (see DON published on 8 September – case no. 11). He has no history of exposure to other known risk factors in the 14 days prior to onset of symptoms.
A 36-year-old female from Al-Kharj city developed symptoms on 24 August and, on 29 August, was admitted to hospital. The patient, who has comorbidities, tested positive for MERS-CoV on 31 August. The current health status of the patient is unknown. Investigation of history of exposure to the known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms is ongoing.
A 29-year-old female, non-national health care worker from Riyadh city developed symptoms on 31 August and, on the same day, was admitted to hospital. This hospital has been experiencing a MERS-CoV outbreak. The patient, who has comorbidities, tested positive for MERS-CoV on 2 September. Currently, she is in stable condition in a negative pressure isolation room on a ward. Investigation of possible epidemiological links with MERS-CoV cases in the hospital is ongoing. The patient has no history of exposure to other known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms.
A 44-year-old female, non-national health care worker from Riyadh city developed symptoms on 28 August and, on 30 August, was admitted to the hospital where she works. This hospital has been experiencing a MERS-CoV outbreak. The patient, who has no comorbidities, tested positive for MERS-CoV on 31 August. Currently, she is in stable condition in a negative pressure isolation room on a ward. Investigation of possible epidemiological links with MERS-CoV cases in the hospital is ongoing. The patient has no history of exposure to other known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms.
A 16-year-old male from Riyadh city developed symptoms on 28 August while admitted to hospital due to chronic conditions since 21 August. This hospital has been experiencing a MERS-CoV outbreak. The patient tested positive for MERS-CoV on 30 August. Currently, he is in critical condition in ICU. Investigation of possible epidemiological links with the MERS-CoV cases in the hospital or with shared health care workers is ongoing. The patient has no history of exposure to other known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms.
A 30-year-old female from Riyadh city developed symptoms 28 August while admitted to hospital due to chronic conditions since 16 August. This hospital has been experiencing a MERS-CoV outbreak. The patient tested positive for MERS-CoV on 30 August. Currently, he is in critical condition in ICU. Investigation of possible epidemiological links with the MERS-CoV cases in the hospital or with shared health care workers is ongoing. The patient has no history of exposure to other known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms.
A 27-year-old, non-national, male health care worker from Riyadh city developed symptoms on 31 August and, on the same day, was admitted to the hospital where he works. This hospital has been experiencing a MERS-CoV outbreak. The patient, who has no comorbidities, tested positive for MERS-CoV on 2 September. Currently, he is in stable condition in a negative pressure isolation room on award. Investigation of possible epidemiological links with MERS-CoV cases in the hospital is ongoing.
A 53-year-old, non-national, male health care worker from Riyadh city developed symptoms on 28 August and, on 31 August, was admitted to the hospital where he works. The patient, who has no comorbidities, tested positive for MERS-CoV on 2 September. Currently, he is in stable condition in a negative pressure isolation room on a ward. The patient provided care to a laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV case (see DON published on 21 August – case no. 18). He has no history of exposure to other known risk factors in the 14 days prior to onset of symptoms.
A 40-year-old, non-national, male health care worker from Riyadh city developed symptoms on 1 September and, on the same day, was admitted to the hospital where he works. The patient, who has no comorbidities, tested positive for MERS-C