MERS cases spike through April and May
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The number of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) cases is spiking, taking the global infection rate to 571 confirmed cases, including 171 deaths, since April 2012.
The World Health Organisation last week expressed concern over the sharp rise in cases, which are concentrated in the Arabian Peninsula, with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the epicentre. According to the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health, 520 cases have been recorded in the country since MERS appeared in 2012.
The virus appears to be circulating widely throughout the region, and all recent cases that have been reported outside the Middle East were exported.
According to the WHO, the number of countries with confirmed cases has expanded to 18, although only 13 countries have reported a confirmed case since December. They include: Egypt, Greece, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, and Yemen.
These travel‐related cases do not appear to have infected others in their countries reports the WHO, evidenced by cases exported to France and the UK in 2013 which led to limited human‐to‐human transmission.
Following a second confirmed imported MERS case in the US, Dr. Anne Schuchat, assistant surgeon general and director of Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases, said; “Given the dramatic increase in MERS cases in the Arabian Peninsula, we expected and are prepared for additional imported cases.
“[However] the risk to the U.S. general public from MERS still remains very low.”
The WHO has called on countries to improve infection prevention and control, collect more data on MERS, and to be vigilant in preventing it from spreading to vulnerable countries, notably in Africa.
Systemic weaknesses in infection prevention and control in poorer countries presents a significant threat to spread across North Africa.
Officials at major airlines such as Delta Air Lines and United Airlines said they are following CDC’s guidelines but had no extra precautions for travellers. Airline crews have been urged to look out for any passengers displaying symptoms and to report suspected cases to authorities.
Meanwhile, Singaporean authorities at Changi Airport said they will begin screening passengers from the Middle East for fever.
The MERS outbreak is not currently considered an international health emergency, which would have far reaching implications for international travel to the region.
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