Between April 10 and 17, 2024, the Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia reported three cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), including one fatality, to the World Health Organization (WHO). All three cases occurred in Riyadh and were linked to the same health-care facility.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the three MERS-CoV cases reported in Riyadh were all male individuals aged between 56 and 60 years. These patients had underlying health conditions and were not employed as health care workers.
The three MERS-CoV cases have been connected through epidemiological investigations to exposures within a health-care facility in Riyadh.
Although ongoing investigations aim to verify this link and understand the transmission route, it’s important to note that since the start of the year, Saudi Arabia has reported a total of four cases and two fatalities related to MERS-CoV.
Despite these notifications, the World Health Organization (WHO) maintains a moderate overall risk assessment at both the global and regional levels.
⚠️New sudden outbreak of MERS coronavirus with HUMAN TO HUMAN transmission—WHO has put out an outbreak bulletin regarding 3 cases in Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 who contracted MERS (with zero contact with camels). All 3 were hospitalized and intubated. Index case has died in just 11 days… pic.twitter.com/AJPGf4UCJF
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) May 10, 2024
MERS is a respiratory infection caused by the MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV). While approximately 36% of MERS patients have died, this mortality rate might be an overestimate.
Mild cases of MERS-CoV could go undetected by existing surveillance systems, and the case fatality ratio is currently calculated based solely on laboratory-confirmed cases.
MERS-CoV spreads to humans through direct or indirect contact with dromedary camels, which serve as the natural host and zoonotic reservoir of the virus. Additionally, MERS-CoV has shown the capability to transmit from person to person.
Human-to-human transmission of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) has been observed mainly among close contacts and within health care settings.
However, beyond health care facilities, there has been minimal human-to-human transmission reported so far.
While there is no existing vaccine or targeted treatment for MERS-CoV, ongoing research is focused on developing specific vaccines and therapies.
In the meantime, patient care remains supportive and tailored to individual clinical needs and symptoms.
Since its initial identification in Saudi Arabia in 2012, there have been a total of 2,204 confirmed human cases of MERS-CoV, resulting in 860 fatalities.
Globally, across 27 countries and all six WHO regions, the total reported cases stand at 2,613, with 941 deaths.
In May 2015, a significant outbreak of MERS-CoV occurred in South Korea, primarily within health care settings.
During this outbreak, there were 186 confirmed cases (185 in South Korea and 1 in China) and 38 fatalities. Notably, the index case—the first patient in the outbreak—had a travel history to the Middle East.
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