WHO vigilant on new Middle East respiratory syndrome developments
Cairo, 23 April, 2014 – The World Health Organization (WHO) is concerned about the rising number of cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in recent weeks, especially in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and in particular that two significant outbreaks occurred in health facilities.

“Approximately 75% of the recently reported cases are secondary cases, meaning that they are considered to have acquired the infection from another case through human-to-human transmission,” WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Ala Alwan said. “The majority of these secondary cases have been infected within the healthcare setting and are mainly healthcare workers, although several patients are also considered to have been infected with MERS-CoV while in hospital for other reasons.”

Although the majority of the cases had either no or only minor symptoms, and most do not continue to spread the virus, WHO acknowledges that some critical information gaps remain to better understand the transmission of the virus as well as the route of infection. WHO is unaware at this point in time of the specific types of exposure in the health care facilities that have resulted in transmission of these infections, but this remains a concern.

Therefore, WHO has offered its assistance to mobilize international expertise to work jointly with national health authorities in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to investigate the current outbreaks in order to determine the transmission chain of this recent cluster and whether there is any evolving risk that may be associated with the current transmissibility pattern of the virus.
Since the emergence of MERS in April 2012, a total of 253 laboratory-confirmed cases of human infections with MERS have been reported to WHO, including 93 deaths. These cases have been reported in the Middle East (including Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates); in Europe (France, Germany, Greece, Italy and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland); in North Africa (Tunisia); and in Asia (Malaysia and the Philippines). The source and mode of infection for the virus remain undetermined.

Several recent cases of people becoming infected in either Saudi Arabia or United Arab Emirates and travelling to a third country have also been reported. Greece, Jordan, Malaysia, and Philippines each reported one such case. So far no further spread of the virus in those countries has been detected. Imported cases already occurred in the past that resulted in limited further human-to-human transmission in France and United Kingdom.

WHO urges all Member States to remain vigilant and enhance surveillance to detect any early sign that the virus has changed and has attained the possibilities of causing sustained person-to-person transmission. WHO expects that it is only through an enhanced coordinated effort the mystery and the risk to global health associated with the emergence of this virus can be unraveled.
http://www.emro.who.int/media/news/mers-developments.html

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Announcements: Ministry of Health Portal – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
:: 20 April 2014
Dr. Al-Rabeeah Says no Coronavirus Cases Recorded among School Students, We Are Ready for the Umrah Season
Excerpt
His Excellency the Minister of Health, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, has announced that 13 new cases of the novel Coronavirus have been recently recorded in the Kingdom’s regions, including seven cases in Jeddah, four cases in Riyadh, one case in each of Madinah and Najran. “Thus, the total number of affected cases reaches 244 ones all over the Kingdom’s regions,” Dr. Al-Rabeeah said, stressing that the Ministry exerts strenuous efforts to control the situation in the Kingdom. Within the same vein, Dr. Al-Rabeeah highlighted that the MOH is fully ready for the Umrah and Hajj seasons of this year thanks to its remarkable experiences, making it a scientific reference in the mass gathering medicine…
http://www.moh.gov.sa/en/Ministry/MediaCenter/News/Pages/news-2014-04-20-004.aspx
:: 22 April 2014
Al-Rabeeah Leaves His Office for the Royal Court, Labor Minister to Lead the Ministry of Health
Excerpt
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, issued today a Royal Decree, relieving His Excellency the Minister of Health Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah of his post and appointing him as an adviser at the Royal Court (Diwan). Instead, His Excellency the Labor Minister Adel bin Mohamed bin Abdel Qader Faqih will occupy the ministerial position, besides his current post. Here is the wording of the Royal Decree:
http://www.moh.gov.sa/en/Ministry/MediaCenter/News/Pages/News-2014-04-22-003.aspx
:: 24 April 2014
The Acting Minister of Health Issues a Decision Appointing Dr. Tarek Madani as an Independent Medical Advisor for the MOH
Excerpt
His Excellency Eng. Adel bin Mohammed Fakeih, the acting Minister of Health issued, today, a decision appointing Dr. Tarek Madani as a medical advisor for the Ministry of Health (MOH).
This decision came according to the acting Minister of Health’s statement made shortly after taking the office, in which he took a pledge to constantly communicate with the community, and to coordinate with the health care experts with the aim of gathering all the information, helping determine the current situation, the seriousness of the situation, and potential risks…
…The acting Minister of Health, Eng. Adel Fakeih said “according to the extensive medical experience he possesses, Dr. Tarek is to work on coordinating the imperative medical plan in relation to fighting the CoronaVirus (CoV). We intend to draw on the expertise and caliber to help us apply our plan in an effective way, in turn enabling us to guarantee safety of the public.
He went on adding “I would like to reiterate my commitment to working ceaselessly on fighting the CoronaVirus, and the decision of appointing Dr. Tarek is a key step towards achieving that goal.”…
http://www.moh.gov.sa/en/Ministry/MediaCenter/News/Pages/News-2014-04-24-002.aspx