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Clarification on a MERS-CoV case in Saudi Arabia
23 June 201623 June 2016 – Recently, some media reports have misinterpreted and erroneously reported details about “Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, published on the WHO “Disease outbreak news” portal on 19 June 2016. -
WHO’s high-level mission to Saudi Arabia on Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) 11–14 January 2016
23 January 2016In 2015, two important technical missions were conducted by WHO in Saudi Arabia. The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and a host of other international health partners participated in the two missions. -
WHO’s high-level mission to Saudi Arabia on Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) 11–14 January 2016
23 January 2016In 2015, two important technical missions were conducted by WHO in Saudi Arabia. The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and a host of other international health partners participated in the two missions. -
WHO mission on Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS‐CoV) in Saudi Arabia
13 September 201513 September 2015 - A team of experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office concluded a mission to Saudi Arabia to assess the current situation of the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV) following the report of a hospital outbreak in Riyadh city. -
WHO mission on Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS‐CoV) in Saudi Arabia
13 September 201513 September 2015 - A team of experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office concluded a mission to Saudi Arabia to assess the current situation of the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV) following the report of a hospital outbreak in Riyadh city. -
International scientific meeting on MERS-CoV reviews progress and identifies remaining knowledge gaps
12 May 2015Cairo 10 May 2015 – The WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean held an international scientific meeting on Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Cairo, Egypt, to discuss and share new scientific evidence and identify remaining gaps in knowledge pertaining to the virus’s origin, reservoir, and transmission mode. -
International scientific meeting on MERS-CoV reviews progress and identifies remaining knowledge gaps
12 May 2015Cairo 10 May 2015 – The WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean held an international scientific meeting on Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Cairo, Egypt, to discuss and share new scientific evidence and identify remaining gaps in knowledge pertaining to the virus’s origin, reservoir, and transmission mode. -
Situation report on Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), 22 February 2015
25 February 2015Situation report on Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV), 22 February 2015 -
More progress needed to control the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-COV) in Saudi Arabia
23 February 2015Riyadh, Saudi Arabia ¦ 23 February 2015 ---- A team of experts from the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and Institut Pasteur, France concluded a mission to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to assess the current situation of the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV) following a surge of cases in the past few weeks and to make recommendations for improving the surveillance, prevention and control of the virus. Already this month, more than 50 cases have been reported in several locations in the Kingdom, including infections acquired in health facilities (called nosocomial infections) in Riyadh, Qassim Region and Damman City, eastern region. -
More progress needed to control the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-COV) in Saudi Arabia
23 February 2015Riyadh, Saudi Arabia ¦ 23 February 2015 ---- A team of experts from the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and Institut Pasteur, France concluded a mission to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to assess the current situation of the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV) following a surge of cases in the past few weeks and to make recommendations for improving the surveillance, prevention and control of the virus. Already this month, more than 50 cases have been reported in several locations in the Kingdom, including infections acquired in health facilities (called nosocomial infections) in Riyadh, Qassim Region and Damman City, eastern region. -
Preparedness for hajj 2014 (1435 H) pays off: no report of MERS-CoV infection among pilgrims
07 October 2014Cairo, 7 October 2014 – In view of the ongoing public health threats from the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection, the WHO Regional Office has stepped up its preparedness efforts across all high-risk countries in the Region. WHO conducted technical assessments to improve infection prevention and control measures in health facilities, reached out to the pilgrims with effective risk communication strategies and products, organized meetings with the heads of medical missions of the top 10 Muslim countries sending the highest number of pilgrims on public health preparedness for hajj, conducted regional meetings and workshops on enhancing surveillance and strengthening infection control in health care settings as part of the Regional Office’s efforts to prevent any international spread of MERS-CoV that may have been associated with hajj this year. -
Preparedness for hajj 2014 (1435 H) pays off: no report of MERS-CoV infection among pilgrims
07 October 2014Cairo, 7 October 2014 – In view of the ongoing public health threats from the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection, the WHO Regional Office has stepped up its preparedness efforts across all high-risk countries in the Region. WHO conducted technical assessments to improve infection prevention and control measures in health facilities, reached out to the pilgrims with effective risk communication strategies and products, organized meetings with the heads of medical missions of the top 10 Muslim countries sending the highest number of pilgrims on public health preparedness for hajj, conducted regional meetings and workshops on enhancing surveillance and strengthening infection control in health care settings as part of the Regional Office’s efforts to prevent any international spread of MERS-CoV that may have been associated with hajj this year. -
WHO concludes a MERS-CoV risk assessment mission in the United Arab Emirates
08 June 2014A team from the WHO has concluded a 5-day mission in United Arab Emirates (UAE) to assess the risk posed by the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in the country. Health authorities in UAE had invited WHO to review the current situation after an upsurge of cases in April. -
WHO concludes MERS-CoV mission in Saudi Arabia
07 May 2014A team of experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) completed a 5-day mission to Saudi Arabia to assist the national health authorities to assess the recent increase in the number of people infected by the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Jeddah. -
WHO experts probe Middle-Eastern respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
03 May 2014WHO experts probe Middle-Eastern respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 2 May 2014 - A team of experts from WHO started a two-day mission yesterday in Jeddah to assist national health authorities to investigate the recent increase in number of people infected by MERS-CoV. From mid-March 2014, 111 people have tested positive in the Jeddah area; the biggest single surge in the MERS-CoV outbreak since the new virus was detected in April 2012. Thirty-one persons have died. -
WHO experts probe Middle-Eastern respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
03 May 2014WHO experts probe Middle-Eastern respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 2 May 2014 - A team of experts from WHO started a two-day mission yesterday in Jeddah to assist national health authorities to investigate the recent increase in number of people infected by MERS-CoV. From mid-March 2014, 111 people have tested positive in the Jeddah area; the biggest single surge in the MERS-CoV outbreak since the new virus was detected in April 2012. Thirty-one persons have died. -
Emergency Committee advises on MERS-CoV, 17 July 2013
17 July 2013An Emergency Committee convened by WHO’s Director-General under the International Health Regulations (IHR) to assess the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome – coronavirus (MERS-CoV) situation today unanimously decided that conditions for a public health emergency of international concern have not yet been met. Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan agreed with the Committee’s advice that the situation is of great concern, although it does not constitute a public health emergency at this time.