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Health Information Update Source: WHO, Event Information Site for IHR National Focal Event Updates: 14 October 2019 to 16 October 2019

  

 

 

Event Updated

 Country Hazard Disease Event Description IHR Assess
2019-10-16 United Arab Emirates (the) Infectious Coronavirus Infection On 7 October 2019, the National IHR Focal Point of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) reported one (1) laboratory-confirmed case of MERS-CoV to WHO.  The case is a 44-year-old male non-national, farmer and living in Al Ain city, Abu Dhabi region in the UAE. He developed fever, runny nose, headache, vomiting, productive cough and shortness of breath on 25 September 2019 and was admitted to hospital on 29 September. A nasopharyngeal aspirate was collected and tested positive for MERS-CoV by RT-PCR (UpE and Orf1a genes) on 3 October by the Shiekh Khalifa Medical Center laboratory. He has underlying comorbidities including diabetes mellitus, hypertension and hyperlipidemia. He has a history of close contact with dromedary camels and sheep at nearby farms in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms. He has no history of recent travel and has not been involved in slaughtering animals. As of 14 October, the patient is in stable condition in the intensive care unit and his treatment is continuing in a negative pressure room.   So far, a total of 61 contacts including 57 health care workers and 4 farm co-workers living in the same household have been identified.  All contacts were tested for MERS-CoV and the results are negative. 

Since 2012, UAE has reported 88 cases of MERS-CoV (including this case) and 12 associated deaths. At a global level, since 2012 until 8 October 2019, the total number of laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV infection cases reported to WHO is 2470 with 851 associated deaths.

WHO does not advise special screening at points of entry with regard to this event nor does it currently recommend the application of any travel or trade restrictions.

 Public Health Risk
2019-10-16 Saudi Arabia Infectious Coronavirus Infection Between 1 and 30 September 2019, the National IHR Focal Point of Saudi Arabia reported 4 additional cases of MERS-CoV infection including one associated death. The cases were reported from Al-Qassim (2 cases), Riyadh (1 case), and Al-Ahsaa (1 case) regions. 

Since 2012 until 30 September 2019, the total number of laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV infection cases reported globally to WHO is 2468 with 851 associated deaths.

WHO does not advise special screening at points of entry with regard to this event nor does it currently recommend the application of any travel or trade restrictions.

 Public Health Risk
2019-10-14 Lebanon Infectious Measles Between 1 November 2018 and 21 September 2019, 1160 measles cases have been reported in Lebanon: 649 were laboratory-confirmed, 8 epi-linked and 503 clinically diagnosed. No associated deaths have been reported. Measles cases have been reported in all eight Lebanese governorates, with Aakar, Baalbek-El-Hermel, Bekaa North, and Mount Lebanon governorates most affected. Ninety percent of suspected cases are Lebanese nationals, while 10% are Syrians living in informal settlements and in residential areas. The measles attack rate among Lebanese is higher than that of Syrians. The most affected age group among 1113 reported cases with known age is the group less than 5 years  including 163 cases who are less than one year old. 

Based on the available information, the risk at national level is considered to be high. Regionally as moderate due to porous boundaries allowing free movement between Lebanon and Syria, so as the low vaccination coverage and recent measles outbreak.  Overall risk at global level was assessed as low.

Based on the current available information, WHO does not recommend any restriction on travel and/or trade to Lebanon.

 Public Health Risk

 *A public health risk is something that is (or is likely to be) hazardous to human health or could contribute to a disease or an infectious condition in humans.