Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a severe acute respiratory illness caused by the MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV).

Illustration photo: t5g.org.vn

Accordingly, the 28-year-old male patient was hospitalized on June 8 and tested positive for MERS-CoV on June 23 in Abu Dhabi. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is no indication that this man had contact with dromedary camels - the main host of MERS-CoV, and also the source of MERS infection from animals to humans.

Medical staff have monitored and tested 108 people the patient had contact with, but so far no secondary infections have been detected.

WHO did not provide further details about the patient's current condition.

According to WHO, MERS cases present with symptoms such as fever, cough and difficulty breathing, which in some cases can lead to pneumonia. Since 2012, there have been 2,605 cases of MERS, including 936 deaths, in 27 countries around the world.

WHO reminds countries to monitor for acute respiratory infections including MERS. WHO does not currently recommend special screening for MERS at points of entry in light of these cases, nor does it advise any travel or trade restrictions.

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