Doha: Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) recently declared that a case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) has been confirmed.
The case, declared on April 3, 2022, is of a male national aged 85 years who complained of multiple chronic diseases. The patient had a history of travel outside the country and a direct contact with camels. He started to develop symptoms before his arrival to Qatar. Upon his arrival to Qatar, the patient was admitted to the hospital to receive the necessary medical care in accordance with the national protocol to deal with confirmed or suspected cases of the disease.
MERS is a viral respiratory disease that is caused by one of the coronaviruses (MERS-CoV), but it differs from the novel Coronavirus known as (COVID19). Both viruses differ in terms of the source of infection, mode of transmission, and the disease severity.
The Ministry of Public Health calls on all members of public, and especially people with chronic diseases or those with immunodeficiency disorders, to adhere to public hygiene measures. This includes washing the hands regularly with water and soap, using hand sanitizers, as well as avoiding close contact with camels and seeking medical advice when experiencing symptoms of fever, cough, sore throat, or shortness of breath.
