Saudi MOH Reports 7 New MERS Cases In Riyadh

 

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The number of MERS cases in Riyadh continues to grow with 7 more cases announced today, 1 of whom is listed as a healthcare worker, and one is listed as not having known contact with previously identified cases.

 

This brings the number of cases reported during the month of August to 84, with all but a small handful coming out of Riyadh.  Most appear linked to nosocomial transmission, although in some cases no direct links with an infected patient have been established.

 

According to media sources this morning, the World Health Organization will be sending a representative to Saudi Arabia next week to assess the situation.

 

WHO official coming to assess MERS outbreak

ARAB NEWS

Published — Saturday 22 August 2015

JEDDAH: An expert from the World Health Organization (WHO) will arrive in Riyadh next week to assess the latest spike in infections and deaths from the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV).

This is according to Izz Al-Din Muhseini, the Kingdom’s WHO representative, who also issued assurances that the Ministry of Health has made every effort to contain the virus inside the National Guard Hospital in Riyadh, the health facility at the center of the surge in cases over the past week.

The WHO expert would evaluate the measures taken by the ministry, and participate in meetings held by ministry officials, Muhseini was quoted as saying by a local publication on Friday.

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