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Did UAE register a new case of the Mers virus? Here’s everything we know
25 Jul, 2023 / 10:21 am / OMNES Media LLC

Source: http://www.mashable.com

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Mashable: A 28-year-old man from Al Ain has tested positive for the Mers virus

The United Arab Emirates has reportedly registered a new case of the potentially deadly Mers virus.

 

The global health body, the World Health Organization (WHO) reportedly confirmed the case on Monday.

According to Khaleej Times, the World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that a man in Al Ain has tested positive for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers) Coronavirus.

The WHO also revealed that 108 contacts were identified and monitored. Health officials checked all the contacts from the last date of exposure to the patient for 14 days. The health body also revealed that no secondary cases have been detected.

The news outlet cited the UN body saying the International Health Regulations National Focal Point (IHR NFP) of the United Arab Emirates notified the case of a 28-year-old man on July 10, from Al Ain city in Abu Dhabi.

The WHO confirmed that the patient had no history of “direct or indirect contact” with camels, goats, or sheep. The man was confirmed to be admitted to the hospital on June 8, with a nasopharyngeal swab collected on June 21. The WHO said that the patient tested positive for the potentially deadly Mers-CoV by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on June 23.

The World Health Organisation (WHO), however, confirmed that the patient was a “non-Emirati” and a “non-healthcare” worker.

The Mers-CoV is transmitted between animals and people with studies revealing that humans are infected through direct or indirect contact with infected camels. However, the exact transmission route is unclear.

The Emirates reported the first case of Mers in July 2013. The country has 94 confirmed cases including the recent, and reported 12 deaths. Meanwhile, the WHO has reported a total of 2,605 cases and 936 Mers associated deaths since 2012, globally.