The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed a new case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers-CoV) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on July 24, 2023. The patient is a 28-year-old male from the city of Al Ain in Abu Dhabi. The man had no history of direct or indirect contact with dromedaries, goats, or sheep. He was admitted to the hospital on June 8 and tested positive for Mers-CoV on June 23. All 108 identified contacts have been monitored for 14 days from the last date of exposure to the patient, and no secondary cases have been detected to date.
This is a respiratory illness that can cause fever, cough, shortness of breath, and pneumonia. It is caused by a coronavirus that is related to the virus that causes SARS. Mers-CoV can be transmitted from animals to humans, and from person to person. The virus is thought to be spread through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
The WHO has said that the risk of Mers-CoV transmission to the general public is low. However, people who have been in close contact with an infected person are at increased risk of infection. The WHO recommends that people who have been in close contact with an infected person should monitor themselves for symptoms of Mers-CoV, and seek medical attention if they develop any of these symptoms.
The UAE has taken a number of measures to prevent the spread of Mers-CoV, including:
- Screening passengers at airports for fever and respiratory symptoms.
- Isolating suspected cases of Mers-CoV.
- Contact tracing of people who have been in close contact with infected people.
- Raising awareness of Mers-CoV among the public.
The UAE has also developed a plan to deal with a potential outbreak of Mers-CoV. This plan includes measures to increase hospital capacity, improve infection control, and communicate with the public. The WHO has praised the UAE for its response to the new case of Mers-CoV. The WHO has said that the UAE has “a strong track record of preventing and responding to infectious diseases”. The WHO has also said that the UAE’s response to the new case of Mers-CoV is “a model for other countries”.
The new case of the virus in the UAE is a reminder that the virus is still present in the region. However, the UAE’s strong response to the outbreak gives hope that the virus can be contained.