7 May 2014 - On 3 and 6 May 2014, the IHR National Focal Point of Jordan notified WHO of two additional laboratory-confirmed cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV) infections.
Globally, from September 2012 to date, WHO has been informed of a total of 496 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV. This total includes 229 cases reported between 11 April and 4 May by Saudi Arabia, and the recent reports of 3 cases from Jordan, and one case each from Egypt, the United States and Yemen.
WHO will update the global total number of deaths as soon as official information is provided by countries.
Information from Jordan
The following details were provided to WHO on 3 May 2014 by the IHR National Focal Point for Jordan.
A 28 year-old male health-care worker complained of a headache and sore throat on 22 April 2014. On 26 April 2014, chest X-rays showed normal findings and testing performed on 27 April 2014 were negative for MERS-CoV. On 30 April 2014, he developed a cough and fever and was admitted to hospital in Zarka on the same day. On 2 May 2014, a chest X-ray showed pneumonia and tested positive for MERS-CoV. The patient is currently in a stable condition.
He is reported to have had close contact with a previously reported case who was also hospitalized in Zarka.
The following details were provided to WHO on 6 May 2014 by the IHR National Focal Point for Jordan.
A 56 year-old Jordanian male resident of Zarka and respiratory therapist at a private clinic was admitted to hospital on 28 April 2014 with pneumonia. On 3 May 2014, he developed acute respiratory distress syndrome and was transferred to the intensive-care unit. Throat swab specimens were collected on 4 May 2014 and tested positive for MERS-CoV on 5 May 2014. The patient died on 5 May 2014. He did not have a recent travel history or exposure to a known laboratory-confirmed case of MERS-CoV.
WHO statement on the Fifth Meeting of the IHR Emergency Committee concerning MERS-CoV, 14 May 2014
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – update
