Egypt reports its first case of MERS virus

[Lite Beer]

Egypt reports its first case of MERS virus

By Laura King

The MERS patient had been living in Saudi Arabia, where the virus has killed more than 90 people, and was placed in quarantine in Cairo.

CAIRO — With the appearance of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS, in the Arab world's most populous country, health officials face a tough new challenge in confronting the often lethal virus.

Egypt's Ministry of Health said Saturday that the country's first case had been discovered, identifying the patient as a 27-year-old Egyptian man who had been living and working in Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh. He was placed in quarantine at a Cairo hospital immediately upon his return.

The news came hours after Saudi Arabia, where the virus first appeared in 2012, announced five new MERS deaths. That brought the fatality toll in the kingdom to 92, with more than 300 cases diagnosed.

Read More: http://www.latimes.com/world/middleeast/la-fg-egypt-mers-20140427,0,1036008.story#axzz304AEFaUQ

--LA Times 2014-04-27

[Chicog]

I wouldn't put it past the Saudis to cover up the fact that they've let this get out of control.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-27108568

[Scott]

I understand they think it is caught from camels. Just how is it transmitted from camels to people? Do camels get sick from it, too?

[Thorgal]

MERS could not be subjected to any international scientific research campaign till now from KSA authorities.

Now that there's a new victim outside KSA it will hopefully speed up a decent research.

[Coppernicussing]

How does it pass from camels to people? Well, scientist can't say, any more than they can say why AIDS, another terminal virus, spread in the homosexual community.
PC trumps truth.
Unfortunately, virus isn't PC.

No one will ever say how it happens.