Global MERS case count now at 132: WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) updated the number of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) cases today in their latest Global Alert and Response.

This thin section, negatively-stained transmission electron micrograph (TEM) revealed some of the ultrastructural morphology of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), which was formerly known as novel coronavirus. Image/Maureen Metcalfe; Azaibi Tamin

The UN health agency says they’ve been informed of an additional 18 new laboratory-confirmed cases including three deaths in Saudi Arabia and a death in Qatar (many of these have previously been covered in The Global Dispatch).

In Saudi Arabia, the WHO  says the  patients are reported from Hafar Al-Batin, Medina and Riyadh. Their ages ranging from three to 75 years old. These cases were announced by the Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia on 1, 5, 8, 10 and 11 September 2013.

Additionally, in Qatar, a previously laboratory-confirmed patient with MERS-CoV died on 6 September 2013.

Globally, from September 2012 to date, WHO has been informed of a total of 132 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV, including 58 deaths.

In addition, earlier this week the WHO issued revised recommendations on lab testing for MERS-CoV, including advice about using caution with serologic tests because they have not been extensively validated.

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