Netherlands report second MERS virus case

Just a day after reporting the first imported Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) case in the Netherlands, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) has reported a second case, a relative of the first patient, according to an RIVM release today (computer translated).

Netherlands Image/CIA

The second Dutch patient has been identified as a woman who contracted the virus on the same trip to Saudi Arabia as the first patient. She is currently hospitalized, in isolation and in stable condition.

The World Health Organization (WHO) released additional information on the first case identified May 14.  For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page.

The patient is a 70 year-old male citizen of the Netherlands, with travel history to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between 26 April 2014 and 10 May 2014.

The patient developed first symptoms on 1 May 2014 while in Medina, Saudi Arabia. He was evaluated at an emergency care department in Mecca on 6 May and given antibiotics; he did not have respiratory symptoms while in Saudi Arabia. On return to the Netherlands, on 10 May, his condition deteriorated, including development of respiratory symptoms, and he was hospitalized on the same day. On 13 May, he tested positive for MERS-CoV. Currently, the patient is in the ICU in a stable condition.

The patient reports no contact with animals or consumption of raw animal products. Identification of close contacts, including flight contacts has been initiated.