On 10 July 2023, the United Arab Emirates, notified the World Health Organization of a case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus in a 28-year-old male from Al Ain city in Abu Dhabi, according to a press release issued by the World Health Organization on 12 July 2023. The case had no history of direct or indirect contact with Dromedaries, Goats, or Sheep (the Animals believed to be the main vectors for the Virus). The patient was admitted to the hospital on 8 June. A nasopharyngeal swab was collected on 21 June and tested positive for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus by polymerase chain reaction (on 23 June 2023. All 108 identified contacts were monitored for 14 days from the last date of exposure to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus patient. No secondary cases have been detected to date.
Since July 2013, when the United Arab Emirates reported the first case of MERS-CoV, 94 confirmed cases (including this new case) and 12 deaths have been reported. Globally, the total number of confirmed Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus cases reported to the World Health Organization since 2012 is 2605, including 936 associated deaths.
The World Health Organization continues to monitor the epidemiological situation and conducts risk assessments based on the latest available information. The World Health Organization expects that additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus infection will be reported from the Middle East and/or other countries where Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus is circulating in Dromedaries.
The World Health Organization re-emphasizes the importance of strong surveillance by all Member States for acute respiratory infections, including Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, and to carefully review any unusual patterns.
On 10 July 2023, the International Health Regulations National Focal Point of the United Arab Emirates notified the World Health Organization of a confirmed case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus in Abu Dhabi. The patient is a 28-year-old male, non- Emirati national living in Al Ain city, a non-healthcare worker. The case visited a private medical centre multiple times between 3 and 7 June 2023, complaining of vomiting, right flank pain, and dysuria (pain when passing urine). On 8 June, the case presented to a government hospital with vomiting, and gastrointestinal symptoms including diarrhoea, and was given an initial diagnosis of acute pancreatitis, acute kidney injury, and sepsis.
On 13 June, he was in critical condition and referred to an intensive care unit (at a specialized government tertiary hospital where he was put on mechanical ventilation. He deteriorated and a nasopharyngeal swab was collected on 21 June and tested positive for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus by polymerase chain reaction on 23 June 2023.
The case has no known co-morbidities, no history of contact with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Human cases, and no recent travel outside the United Arab Emirates. The patient has no known history of direct contact with Animals including Dromedary Camels, nor consumption of their raw products.
All 108 contacts that were identified have been monitored for 14 days from the last date of exposure to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus patient, no secondary case was identified. The case has no family members or household contacts identified in the United Arab Emirates.
Prior to this notification, the last Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus infection reported from the United Arab Emirates was in November 2021. The first laboratory-confirmed case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus in United Arab Emirates was in July 2013. Since then, the United Arab Emirates has reported 94 cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (including this current case) and 12 associated deaths (a Case Fatality Ratio of 13%).
Middle East respiratory syndrome is a viral respiratory infection that is caused by a Coronavirus called Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, a form of single-strand RNA Virus. Humans are infected with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus from direct or indirect contact with Dromedary Camels who are the natural host and zoonotic source of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus infection.
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus infections range from asymptomatic or mild respiratory symptoms to severe acute respiratory disease and death. A typical presentation of a person with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus disease is fever, cough and shortness of breath. Pneumonia is a common finding, but not always present. Gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhoea, have also been reported. The Virus appears to cause more severe disease in older people, persons with weakened immune systems and those with chronic diseases such as renal disease, cancer, chronic lung disease, and diabetes. Severe illness can cause respiratory failure that requires mechanical ventilation and support in an intensive care unit resulting in high mortality.
No vaccine or specific treatment is currently available, although several Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-specific vaccines and treatments are in development. Treatment is supportive and based on the patient’s clinical condition.
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