Update on latest MERS situation in Saudi Arabia and Qatar
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In the KSA, the 18 patients are 10 men and eight women aged from 17 to 79, with eight having underlying illnesses. Among them, six patients had contact with camels and consumed camel milk, including the two who died, and 10 were associated with an outbreak in a hospital in Riyadh. In addition, four previously confirmed patients died.
In Qatar, the case involves a 62-year-old man with underlying illness, who did not have contact with camels or individuals with symptoms. He also did not travel in the past few months. Investigation is ongoing.
To date, 1 936 cases have been reported to the WHO, with at least 690 deaths. Of note, 1 720 were confirmed in 10 Middle East countries, with 1 575 in the KSA, 79 in the United Arab Emirates, 28 in Jordan, 17 in Qatar, eight in Oman, six in Iran, four in Kuwait, and one each in Lebanon, Yemen and Bahrain.
"Travellers to the Middle East should avoid going to farms, barns or markets with camels, avoid contact with sick persons and animals, especially camels, birds or poultry, and avoid unnecessary visits to healthcare facilities. We strongly advise travel agents organising tours to the Middle East to abstain from arranging camel rides and activities involving direct contact with camels, which are known risk factors for acquiring MERS Coronavirus," a spokesman for the CHP said.
"We will maintain close communication with the WHO and relevant health authorities," the spokesman added.
Travellers to affected areas should maintain vigilance, adopt appropriate health precautions and take heed of personal, food and environmental hygiene. The public may visit the following pages for more information and health advice: the MERS pages of the CHP and the Travel Health Service, MERS statistics in affected areas, the CHP's Facebook Page and YouTube Channel, and the WHO's latest news. Tour leaders and tour guides operating overseas tours are advised to refer to the CHP's health advice on MERS.
Ends/Wednesday, April 5, 2017
Issued at HKT 12:15
Issued at HKT 12:15
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