Qatar reports MERS coronavirus case in Doha

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported a confirmed case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in a 65-year-old male from Doha.

This is the 23rd MERS-CoV case reported in Qatar since Oct. 2012.

According to WHO, the patient developed cough, palpitations, dizziness, chills and rigor on 9 February, and was admitted to a hospital on the same day. A nasopharyngeal swab was collected on 17 February and tested positive for MERS-CoV by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) (UpE and Orf1a genes) at the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (DLMP) in Hamad Medical Corporation on 17 February.

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He has underlying comorbidities including diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and coronary artery disease. He is in critical condition and has been isolated in the intensive care unit. The case-patient has a history of close contact with dromedary camels in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms.

Since 2012, the total number of laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV infection cases reported globally to WHO is 2521 with 866 associated deaths.