Two additional laboratory confirmed cases of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (Mers-CoV) were reported from Kuwait, said the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The first patient is a 47 year-old man who became ill on October 30 and was hospitalised on November 7, in critical condition. The second patient is a 52-year-old man with underlying medical conditions who was also hospitalised in critical condition on November 10.

Globally, from September 2012 to date, WHO has been informed of a total of 157 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with Mers-CoV, including 66 deaths.

Based on the current situation and available information, WHO encourages all member states to continue their surveillance for severe acute respiratory infections (Sari) and to carefully review any unusual patterns.
 
Health care providers are advised to maintain vigilance. Recent travellers returning from the Middle East who develop Sari should be tested for Mers-CoV as advised in the current surveillance recommendations.
 
Patients diagnosed and reported to date have had respiratory disease as their primary illness. Diarrhoea is commonly reported among the patients and severe complications include renal failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with shock. It is possible that severely immune compromised patients can present with atypical signs and symptoms.
 
Health care facilities are reminded of the importance of systematic implementation of infection prevention and control (IPC). Health care facilities that provide care for patients suspected or confirmed with Mers-CoV infection should take appropriate measures to decrease the risk of transmission of the virus to other patients, health care workers and visitors. - TradeArabia News Service