Abu Dhabi: Representatives from the World Health Organisation (WHO) have been invited to investigate and monitor the first UAE- diagnosed case of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (Mers-CoV) infection, a senior health official said in the capital today (Sunday).
The patient, an 82-year-old Emirati male, is currently in stable condition and is being treated at the Shaikh Khalifa Medical City, the Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD) official told Gulf News.
The case is being monitored closely by the UAE Ministry of Health, in coordination with HAAD. The WHO officials have been invited as part of the procedures followed by member states in case of the spread of infectious diseases, the official added.
The case was first announced by state news media WAM last Thursday, and it was revealed then that the patient was admitted at the intensive care unit. He is also known to suffer from multiple myeloma, a cancer of blood plasma cells.
At the time of the announcement, the ministry reassured residents that WHO had not deemed the Mers-CoV a public health concern at the moment.
Mers-CoV is one among a large family of viruses known as coronaviruses. According to the WHO, these can cause a range of illnesses in humans, from the common cold to Sars (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), which killed a tenth of the 8,000 people it infected worldwide in late 2002 and early 2003. The viruses can also cause animal diseases.
The Mers-CoV is a particular strain that has not been identified previously in humans, and the first case of infection was announced by the WHO in September 2012. Referred to initially as the novel coronavirus, there is still limited information on transmission, severity and clinical impact. The virus is however known to pass from human to human upon close contact.
In its latest report dated July 11, the WHO said it had been informed of 81 laboratory-confirmed cases worldwide of Mers-CoV infection, including 45 deaths (about 60 per cent fatality rate).
While the majority of cases have been diagnosed in Saudi Arabia, a 66-year-old Emirati man succumbed to the virus in Germany in March 2013. The patient had also been receiving treatment for cancer.
To address the situation, urgent talks have recently been held by international health experts in Geneva, and an emergency committee has been formed by the WHO to prepare for any worsening of the situation. The committee will assess whether the outbreak constitutes a “public health emergency of international concern”, and can recommend measures to try to contain its spread, such as travel restrictions. Till date, no travel or trade restrictions, or special screening at points of entry, have been recommended by the WHO.
In addition, the Saudi Arabia Health Ministry announced on Saturday (July 13) that it will not issue Haj visas this year for the elderly and people with chronic diseases, in a bid to prevent the spread of the Mers-CoV during the pilgrimage season. It also urged pilgrims to wear face masks in crowded places.
To protect oneself from infection, the Centres for Disease Prevention and Control in the United States recommends that people wash their hands with soap and water often, or use an alcohol-based sanitiser. It also urges avoiding contact with sick people, and covering the nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing and throwing the tissue in the trash. Travellers are also recommended to visit physicians four to six weeks earlier to ensure that they are up to date with all recommended vaccinations.
