MERS SITUATION UPDATEFEBRUARY 2019
HIGHLIGHTS
Published by the World Health Organization (WHO), Eastern Mediterranean Regional O�ce (EMRO), Cairo, Egypt.For Correspondence: Tel + 20-2-22765492, Fax + 20-2-2765456. E-mail: [email protected]
Epidemiological characteristics of MERS cases reported globallybetween Sep-February 2013 and Sep-February 2019
Characteristic
Number
Median age in years
Gender (% male)
% of primary cases
% of secondary cases
(%) of unknown contact history
% of HCW
% of Fatal
Sep 13-Feb 14
93
54
72
27
34
39
22
54
Sep 14-Feb 15
207
55
75
27
35
37
13
49
Sep 15-Feb 16
123
49
67
26
67
7
22
23
Sep 16-Feb 17
120
57
77
78
19
3
4
36
Sep 17-Feb 18
96
56
76
77
23
0
4
41
Sep 18-Feb 19
125
51
80
38
61
1
10
18
Characteristics of MERS cases reported fromKingdom of Saudi Arabia, June 2012-February 2019
At the end of February 2019, a total of 2374 laboratory-confirmed cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), including 823 associated deaths (case–fatality rate: 34.6%) were reported globally; the majority of these cases were reported from Saudi Arabia (1983 cases, including 745 related deaths with a case–fatality rate of 37.5%).
During the month of Feburary, a total of 76 laboratory-confirmed cases of MERS were reported globally: 68 of the cases were reported from Saudi Arabia with 10 associated deaths and 8 from were reported from Oman with 2 associated deaths. This month, Saudi Arabia experienced an outbreak in Wadi Aldwaser city and one of its hospitals. From January 29 to end of February, a total of 52 laboratory-confirmed cases with 7 associated deaths have been reported for this outbreak: 1 suspected index, 3 unknown exposures, 10 sporadic primary cases, 38 secondary cases (7 household contacts and 31 hospital-acquired cases, including 11 healthcare workers). There is no ongoing active transmission occurring. In Oman this month, 4 additional secondary cases have been linked to the cluster previously reported in January and a new non-linked cluster of 4 cases (including 1 HCW) with 2 deaths was reported as well. The new cluster includes 1 suspected index case and 3 secondary cases (including 1 HCW).
The demographic and epidemiological characteristics of reported cases, when compared during the same corresponding period of 2013 to 2019, do not show any significant di�erence or change, except for the increase in the number of secondary cases and healthcare worker cases due to the hospital outbreak this month. Owing to improved infection prevention and control practices in hospitals, the number of hospital-acquired cases of MERS has dropped significantly since 2015.
The age group 50–59 years continues to be at highest risk for acquiring infection of primary cases. The age group 30–39 years is most at risk for secondary cases. The number of deaths is higher in the age group 50–59 years for primary cases and 70–79 years for secondary cases.
MERS cases reported from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia byweek of symptoms onset, June 2012-February 2019
Laboratory-confirmed cases of MERS reported inEastern Mediterranean Region, April 2012-February 2019 SUMMARY
2374823
27
12
Laboratory-confirmed cases reportedsince April 2012
countries reported cases since April 2012in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
13 laboratory-confirmed cases reportedfrom Oman in 2019
deaths reported since April 2012
countries reported cases globally
Community versus hospital acquired (symptomatic) MERScases in Eastern Mediterranean Region, Jan 2014-Feb 2019
Age and fatality distribution of Primary and Secondary casesof MERS reported from Saudi Arabia, 2012-February 2019
Type of case
Primary
Secondary
Missing
Unknown
Total
2012
3
2
5
2013
36
93
1
28
158
2014
164
264
15
219
662
2015
52
222
102
78
454
2016
74
60
103
11
248
2017
71
90
68
5
234
2018
54
35
52
1
142
2019
21
43
16
80
Grand Total
456
771
346
342
1983
Survived Died
MERS in Saudi Arabia (January-February 2019)
January 2019 11 3
February 2019 58 10
Total 69 13
Community acquired
Hospital acquired
Saudi Arabia
United Arab Emirates
Qatar
Oman
Kuwait
Jordan
IRAN (ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF)
Lebanon
Survived
Died
Survived
Died
n*=1284
Cases of MERS in healthcare workers reportedfrom Saudi Arabia Jan 2013 - Feb 2019
Health care worker
Non HCWHCW= 19.0%
19.0%Primary Secondary
Percentage
Age group
00-9
10-19
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60-69
70-79
80-89
90&>90
Num
ber
of c
ases
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019Year
Num
ber
of c
ases
0
50
100
150
200
250
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019Month
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
Epi week
11 19 27 35 43 51 3 11 19 27 35 43 51 3 11 19 27 35 43 51 2 10 18 26 34 42 50 2 10 18 26 34 42 50 2 10 18 26 34 42 50 2 10 18 26 38 42 46 48 3 72012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
No. of cases
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
30 20 10 0 10 20 301 3 5 7 9 11 1 3 5 7 9 11 1 3 5 7 9 11 1 3 5 7 9 11 1 3 5 7 9 11 1 3 5 7 9 11 1
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
WH
O-E
M/C
SR
/20
7/E
22 30 38 50 2 10 18 26 34 50 1 9 17 25 33 53 4 12 20 28 36 52 4 12 20 28 36 52 4 12 20 28 36 52 4 12 20 28 40 46 48 4 8
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Epi week
