Saudi Arabia reports two more MERS deaths, brings global total for fatalities to 60
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported today in a Global Alert and Response (GAR) of two additional laboratory confirmed cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Saudi Arabia with both cases resulting in death.
Image/CIA
According to the update, the patients, both men, aged 55 and 78, were from Riyadh region. They became ill at the end of September 2013 and died in the beginning of October 2013. Both the patients were reported to have had no contact to a known laboratory-confirmed case with MERS-CoV.
Globally, from September 2012 to date, WHO has been informed of a total of 138 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV, including 60 deaths.
In addition, with the Muslim pilgrimage of Hajj beginning this week and millions of people expected, Saudi health authorities have strengthened the surveillance and health education for incoming pilgrims.
In addition to the existing laboratory facility in Jeddah and Medina, a new laboratory unit has been installed at Mena Alwadi Hospital in order to rapidly conduct tests for suspected cases.
The Saudi National Scientific Committee for Infectious Diseases recommends that persons older than 65, children, pregnant women and those with underlying conditions should postpone the pilgrimage due to the MERS-CoV risk. According to KSA health authorities, random checks of pilgrims are performed at the arrival at the airports.
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It is so very bad incident in the Saudia Arabia by the dangerous disease.
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