23 February 2015 | News | By BioSpectrum Bureau
MERS is back!
UN experts have been flown to Saudi Arabia to assess the situation
Singapore: After few months of relief, MERS has again begun its deadly hunt in the Arab country infecting nearly 50 people in the month of February. The surging cases has rung alarm bells and an international team of the United Nations including human and animal health experts have been flown to Saudi Arabia to review the situation and advise precautionary measures.
A WHO spokesperson said that the health agency was worried with the steep rise in cases and were taking necessary measures by urging scientists, doctors and citizens to take due precautions and step up surveillance measures.
"Although this is still a small outbreak compared to last year, we still need to understand more about what is happening," said an official. The virus has affected people in other parts of the world, but has mostly remained centered in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Ministry said that nearly 902 cases of Mers have been registered in Saudi Arabia since the virus was first identified in 2012, though 490 people who contracted it have recovered.