Abu Dhabi: A 38-year-old man has become the first reported patient in the UAE to succumb to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (Mers-CoV) in 2015.
According to the latest report published by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Abu Dhabi-based expatriate developed symptoms on December 29. On January 29, he visited a hospital emergency room because his symptoms had worsened, and he was admitted.
The patient was soon in critical condition at the intensive care unit, and passed away on February 6.
According to a WHO report, investigations are still ongoing into whether the patient had any contact with camels before the infection. Mers is known to more easily infect the elderly and those suffering from chronic diseases, but in this case, the patient had none of these risk factors.
Since September 2012, WHO has been notified of 977 Mers-CoV infections globally, and 359 of these cases have been fatal.
While no trade or travel restrictions or special screenings have yet been advised by the international watchbody, it does urge stringent infection control practices.
