MERS SITUATION UPDATEJANUARY 2020

Published by the World Health Organization (WHO), Eastern Mediterranean Regional O�ce (EMRO), Cairo, Egypt.For Correspondence: Tel + 20-2-22765492, Fax + 20-2-2765456. E-mail: emrgohspoutbreak@who.int

Epidemiological characteristics of MERS cases reported globallybetween August–January 2014 and August–January 2020

Characteristic

Number

Median age in years

Gender (% male)

% of primary cases

% of secondary cases

(%) of unknown contact history

% of HCW

% of Fatal

Aug 14-Jan 15

130

55

78

40

33

27

12

45

Aug 15-Jan 16

240

53

61

10

83

6

18

34

Aug 16-Jan 17

107

56

77

75

21

4

5

33

Aug 17-Jan 18

106

52

71

58

42

0

8

35

Aug 19-Jan 20

59

57

76

43

20

38

8

27

Aug 18-Jan 19

68

56

82

51

47

2

0

25

Characteristics of MERS cases reported from Kingdomof Saudi Arabia, June 2012–January 2020

HIGHLIGHTSAt the end of January 2020, a total of 2519 laboratory-confirmed cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), including 866 associated deaths (case-fatality rate: 34.3%) were reported globally. The majority of these cases were reported from Saudi Arabia (2121 cases), including 788 related deaths with a case-fatality rate of 37.1%.

Since the last update was published (December MERS situation update), a total of 17 new laboratory-confirmed cases of MERS were reported globally. Two of the cases were reported from the United Arab Emirates, both males, with a history of exposure to camels and their products. The other 15 cases were reported from Saudi Arabia with five associated deaths. The deaths occurred among patients aged 45-85 years with comorbidities. They have no clear history of exposure to any of the known risk factors.

A hospital outbreak was reported in Saudi Arabia with a cluster of six cases. Three of the cases were health care workers, two were patients (one of whom died) and one was a visitor. The source of infection of the first case reported in the cluster is currently unknown and under investigation. Investigation of household and hospital contacts revealed no further secondary cases.

The demographic and epidemiological characteristics of reported cases, when compared with the same corresponding periods in 2014–2020, do not show any significant difference or change. The number of cases reported in this period was less than all other corresponding periods.

The age group 50–59 years continues to be at the highest risk for acquiring infection as primary cases. The age group 30–39 years is most at risk for secondary infections. The number of deaths is higher in the age group 50–59 years for primary cases and 70–79 years for secondary cases.

MERS cases reported from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia byweek of symptoms onset, June 2012–January 2020

Laboratory-confirmed cases of MERS reported in theEastern Mediterranean Region, July 2012–January 2020 SUMMARY

2519

12

Laboratory-confirmed cases reportedsince April 2012

countries reported cases since April 2012in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

866 deaths reported since April 2012

27 countries reported cases globally

Age and fatality distribution of primary and secondary casesof MERS reported from Saudi Arabia, 2012–January 2020

Type of case

Primary

Secondary

Missing

Unknown

Total

2012

3

2

5

2013

36

93

1

28

158

2014

164

264

15

219

662

2015

52

222

102

78

454

2016

75

60

103

11

249

2017

70

90

68

5

233

2018

54

35

52

1

142

2019

57

75

57

15

204

Grand Total

512

844

408

357

2121

2020

1

3

10

14

Survived

Died

Cases of MERS in healthcare workers reportedfrom Saudi Arabia, Jan 2013–Jan 2020

Health care worker

Non HCWHCW= 19.1%

19.1%

Community versus hospital acquired (symptomatic) MERScases in Eastern Mediterranean Region, Jan 2014-Jan 2020

Community acquired

Hospital acquired

© World Health Organization 2020.Some rights reserved. This work is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-Share Alike 3.0 IGO license (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/igo). Document no. WHO-EM/CSR/254/E

Survived

Died

n*=1356

Survived Died

MERS in Saudi Arabia 2020 (January)*

January 2020

Total

4

4

10

10

* Based on date of symptom onset or laboratory confirmation for asymptomatic cases

Primary Secondary

No. of cases

Saudi Arabia

United Arab Emirates

Jordan

Oman

Qatar

Kuwait

Iran (Islamic Republic of)

Lebanon

Epi week

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Num

ber

of

case

s

Year

0

50

100

150

200

250

1 3 5 7 9 11 1 3 5 7 9 11 1 3 5 7 9 11 1 3 5 7 9 11 1 3 5 7 9 11 1 3 5 7 9 11 1 3 5 7 9 11 1

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Num

ber

of

case

s

MonthPercentage

30 25 20 15 10 5 0 5 10 15 20 25

Age group

00-9

10-19

20-29

30-39

40-49

50-59

60-69

70-79

80-89

90&>90

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

22 30 38 50 2 10 18 26 34 42 50 1 9 17 25 33 41 53 4 12 20 28 36 52 4 12 20 28 44 52 4 12 20 28 36 52 4 12 20 28 36 44 52 4 12 20 28 36 44 1 5

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

11 19 27 35 43 51 3 11 19 27 35 43 51 3 11 19 27 35 43 51 2 10 18 26 34 42 50 2 10 18 26 34 42 50 2 10 18 26 34 42 50 2 10 18 26 34 42 50 3 11 19 27 35 43 51 3

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020