New MERS coronavirus cases reported from Saudi Arabia, UAE

At least five new  Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) have been reported out of the Middle East–Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, according to reports.

The Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health reports four new cases of the novel coronavirus.

According to a health ministry press release Friday, the 1st and 2nd new cases are individuals working in the health sector, who have no symptoms of the infection, but are providing care for the 3rd case who has symptoms of the disease. This 3rd symptomatic patient is 53 years of age and is suffering from several chronic disease and is under intensive care.

The 4th case is 73 years old and had been suffering from several chronic diseases. This patient has passed away.

In Dubai, UAE, an elderly Emirati man was taken to hospital after displaying “symptoms of the Sars-like virus”, Dubai Health Authority confirmed on Friday, according to a The National report Friday.

The 68-year-old patient, who is in the intensive care unit, suffers from diabetes and chronic kidney failure.

The latest numbers from the World Health Organization Dec. 17 says there have been a total of 165 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV, including 71 deaths.

This does not include the latest cases reported here.

For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page and the Outbreak News This Week Radio Show page.

Looking for a job in health care? Check here to see what’s available

Image/W123 at Wikimedia Commons