Press Release

Update of latest MERS situation in Saudi Arabia

16 November 2015

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (November 16) closely monitoring seven additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), including one death, reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), and again urged the public to pay special attention to safety during travel, taking due consideration of health risks of the places of visit.

According to the WHO, among the three male and four female patients aged from 24 to 81 (median: 54), three have underlying illnesses. Five (including two healthcare workers) are associated with an MERS outbreak in a hospital, while the remaining two (including a healthcare worker) had contact with previously confirmed patients.

In addition, three previously confirmed patients died.

To date, 1 618 cases have been reported to the WHO, including at least 579 deaths. Of note, 1 405 were confirmed in nine Middle East countries including 1 270 in the KSA, 76 in the United Arab Emirates, 28 in Jordan, 13 in Qatar, six each in Iran and Oman, four in Kuwait, and one each in Lebanon and Yemen.

"Travellers to the Middle East should avoid going to farms, barns or markets with camels, avoid contact with sick persons and animals, especially camels, birds or poultry, and avoid unnecessary visits to healthcare facilities. We strongly advise travel agents organising tours to the Middle East to abstain from arranging camel rides and activities involving direct contact with camels, which are known risk factors for acquiring MERS Coronavirus," a spokesman for the CHP said.

"We will maintain close communication with the WHO and relevant health authorities," the spokesman added.

Travellers to affected areas should maintain vigilance, adopt appropriate health precautions and take heed of personal, food and environmental hygiene. The public may visit the pages below for more information and health advice:

• The CHP's MERS page (This link will open in a new windowwww.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/26511.html);
• MERS statistics in affected areas (This link will open in a new windowwww.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/distribution_of_mers_cases_en.pdf);
• The MERS page of the DH's Travel Health Service (This link will open in a new windowwww.travelhealth.gov.hk/english/popup/popup.html);
• The CHP Facebook Page (This link will open in a new windowwww.fb.com/CentreforHealthProtection);
• The CHP YouTube Channel (This link will open in a new windowwww.youtube.com/c/ChpGovHkChannel); and
• The WHO's latest news (This link will open in a new windowwww.who.int/csr/don/archive/disease/coronavirus_infections/en).

Tour leaders and tour guides operating overseas tours are advised to refer to the CHP's health advice on MERS (This link will open in a new windowwww.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/26551.html).