DOHA: The Supreme Council of Health (SCH) yesterday confirmed a third case of coronavirus in Qatar. The SARS-like disease is also called Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).
A 59-year-old Qatari who recently arrived in Doha from another country tested positive for the virus, the SCH said yesterday. He experienced symptoms while he was out of the country and underwent check-up at the specialised laboratory at the Hamad General Hospital after his arrival.
“The patient is undergoing treatment and his condition is stable,” SCH said in a statement.
Two Qataris were infected by the virus earlier, one of them died in a London hospital in June, about nine months after he was reported ill.
“This was the only death in Qatar due to the virus until now. The second victim fully recovered from the illness and the condition of the third patient is stable,” Dr Mohammed Al Hajri, Director of Health Protection and Communicable Disease Control at SCH told this daily last evening.
Asked if any special precautions had been taken in view of an increase in the number of people returning from vacation, Dr Al Hajri said: “The World Health Organisation (WHO) has until now not recommended any special precaution against the disease.
“However, we are advising people returning from vacation to undergo a check up in any of the clinics or health centres if they experience the symptoms associated with the disease.” The common symptoms are fever, cough, shortening of breath, diarrhoea and vomiting.
“Even those experiencing mild symptoms have been advised to go for a test to rule out the possibility of an infection. Those who have severe symptoms should go to the emergency department. We have directed all clinics and health centres to refer all suspected cases to the Hamad General Hospital for further tests,” said Al Hajri.
The disease can now be detected in Qatar at the specialised laboratory at HMC which is equipped with latest technology. Al Hajri said it was difficult to say if any of the three cases was originated in Qatar.
“This has posed a major challenge. The disease is mostly found in the Middle Eastern countries but a few cases have been reported in some like China. We are expecting more cases in the days to come and are advising people to take precautions,” said Al Hajri. The SCH has created a special link on its website to raise public awareness about the disease and has set up a hotline — 6674 0948 — that is available round the clock.
The Peninsula
