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Commentary
Another Qatari
MERS-CoV
Case Raises Ramadan Concerns
Recombinomics
Commentary 23:45
August 26, 2013
The 29-year-old was diagnosed in the national center for flu, and samples were sent to laboratories abroad for confirmation, the health authority said in a press statement.
The man is in "critical condition," and he is currently under observation at the intensive care unit, the statement added.
The above comments describe the second MERS-CoV confirmed case in Qatar in the past week. Like the earlier case (59M), this case is reported almost exactly one year after another Qatari (49M) developed flu-like symptoms while performing Umrah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) during Ramadan. The 2012 case recovered after returning to Qatar, but symptoms returned after 2 weeks and his condition deteriorated. He was transported to England by air ambulance, where he was MERS-CoV confirmed (he was the second confirmed case). He was placed on life support and was hospitalized for 9 months prior to his death.
The case who was diagnosed in the past week was said to have developed symptoms prior to returning to Qatar, and local media indicate he also developed symptoms in KSA while performing Umrah during Ramadan.
Few details have been released for the latest case, who is the second case diagnosed by Qatar. The time of this case also raises concerns that the infection is linked to Ramadan pilgrims such as the recent confirmed case or contacts or other pilgrims who recently returned fro KSA.
More detail on travel history of the latest cases, as well as links to the recent case or contacts would be useful.
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