A Patient Has Tested Positive For The Deadly MERS Virus In Abu Dhabi

A patient in Abu Dhabi has tested positive for the MERS coronavirus, according to the Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD). 

MERS, Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome is a deadly virus that is listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a likely cause of a future epidemic.

The authorities have isolated the patient and followed protocols as per WHO, for MERS virus. 

Reports show that since the discovery of the disease in 2012, 1,936 cases have been confirmed by the WHO, with 690 deaths

Symptoms of MERS include acute respiratory illness – including a fever, cough and shortness of breath and can lead to kidney failure or pneumonia. 

People at high risk of the disease include: people with diabetes, renal failure, chronic lung disease, and immunocompromised persons.

According to WHO:

“MERS-CoV causes severe human infections resulting in high mortality and has demonstrated the ability to transmit between humans. So far, the observed human-to-human transmission has occurred mainly in health care settings.”