South Korea has reported nine confirmed cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Cororonavirus (MERS-CoV) infection. Another case has been confirmed in China.
The coronavirus epidemic appears to be resuming in the Middle East. Korean news agency Yonhap revealed that two more cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV) had been confirmed, bringing the number of people infected in South Korea to nine. In China, a first case of a patient with the coronavirus has been confirmed by the authorities in Beijing, the WHO said on Friday, May 29.
This is a South Korean national who arrived in Guangdong province in the south of the country on Tuesday, passing through Hong Kong airport. Aged 44, the patient was in close contact with his father, who was already infected. He is currently in solitary confinement in a hospital in Huizhou and had intentionally ignored quarantine instructions to go on a business trip.
The father, who was responsible for the infections, is a 68-year-old man. He was diagnosed on May 20, two weeks after a stay in the Middle East, including two days in Saudi Arabia, the first outbreak of the disease.
40% mortality rate
Identified for the first time, in September 2012, in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, this new coronavirus, close to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), is more deadly but less contagious. MERS-CoV very often presents with fever and respiratory signs which can cause severe pneumonia in patients. The maximum incubation period is currently estimated at 14 days, recalled the National Institute for Sanitary Watch (InVS), on his site.
THE’World Health Organization (WHO) has recorded, since 2012, more than 1,134 cases of infection with MERS-CoV. Of these, more than 420 were fatal. The Organization therefore recommends avoiding drinking raw camel milk or eating meat that is undercooked.
It encourages all countries to continue their surveillance for acute respiratory infections, to take a closer look at any unusual symptoms and to take precautionary measures in hospitals.
Although there is currently no vaccine or treatment to fight this disease, which has a mortality rate of over 40%, the WHO does not recommend any travel or trade restrictions.
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