We have identified you may not be viewing TRAVAX optimally because the browser you are using is unsupported - click here.

placeholder="Enter search term...">
Suitcase

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) in the United Arab Emirates

28 May 2018

On 28 May 2018 the World Health Organisation Link reported a case of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV) infection in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The patient is a 78 year old man from Gayathi, UAE who has underlying medical conditions. He developed fever, cough and shortness of breath on 4 May 2018 and attended a hospital in Abu Dhabi on 13 May 2018. The patient owns a camel farm in UAE, which he visits on daily basis and also reported recent travel to Saudi Arabia.

Advice for Travellers

The risk associated with MERS-CoV to the general UK population and travellers to the Arabian Peninsula and surrounding countries remains very low.

Although the source of the virus and the mechanism of transmission is unknown, it would be prudent to try to reduce the general risk of infection while travelling by:

  • Avoiding close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections.
  • Frequent hand-washing, especially after direct contact with ill people or their environment.
  • Adhering to food safety and hygiene rules such as avoiding undercooked meats, raw fruits and vegetables unless they have been peeled, or unsafe water.
  • Avoiding close contact with live farm or wild animals.
  • Avoiding contact with camels, consumption of raw camel milk or camel products, eating undercooked camel meat.
  • Travellers to the Middle East who develop symptoms either during travel or after their return are encouraged to seek medical attention and to share their history of travel.
  • People with symptoms of acute respiratory infection should practice cough etiquette (maintain distance, cover coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues or clothing, and wash hands) and to delay travel until they are no longer symptomatic.

Based on the information available, WHO does not advise special screening at points of entry with regard to this event nor does it currently recommend the application of any travel or trade restrictions.

Note: Some countries have however, introduced special screening at points of entry with regard to MERS-CoV.

For further advice see Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus.