The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has reported a new Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus (Mers-CoV) case, the first to be confirmed in Qatar for 2016.
The MoPH said a 66-year old Qatari national is under treatment for Mers CoV at the Hamad General Hospital (HGH). After his return from a trip to Saudi Arabia, where he owns a sheep and camel barn, the patient developed acute symptoms of fever, cough, and diarrhoea associated with abdominal pain.
He was taken by ambulance to HGH where laboratory tests detected Mers-CoV. The patient, in critical condition, has been admitted to the ICU in restricted infection prevention and control measures at HGH.
After the case was confirmed, the rapid response team of the Health Protection and Communicable Disease Control department at the MoPH carried out extensive search to identiy all potential contacts of the patient.
All traced contacts will be monitored for two weeks, while those who develop suspected symptoms will be subject to laboratory investigation.
The last confirmed case of the disease in Qatar was reported on May 22, 2015. Qatar had reported four Mers CoV cases in 2015.
While research efforts continue on a global and local level to determine the modes of transmission of Mers-CoV infection, the MoPH has advised citizens and residents who suffer from chronic diseases to avoid direct contact with camels and washing hands with soap and water thoroughly. It has also recommended to implement respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette in addition to boiling camel milk before consumption.
MoPH has also announced that the Health Protection and Communicable Disease Control hotlines 66740948 and 66740951 are accessible round-the-clock to respond to any notification or enquiry related to infectious diseases.