Oman Reports Mers Case

Ministry says situation under control and there is no need to panic

Staff Report

Muscat: A 57-year-old Omani national has tested positive for the deadly Mers coronavirus, the Ministry of Health said.

The patient is in stable health condition and undergoing medical treatment in a government hospital. The situation was under control and there was no need to panic, the ministry said.

Eight people have been diagnosed with Mers, also known as Coronavirus, in Oman so far.

The last case was reported in January 2016 and the patient was later discharged from the hospital.

Mers is considered a deadlier but less transmissible cousin of the SARS virus that appeared in Asia in 2003 and infected more than 8,000 people, nine per cent of whom died.

Like SARS, it appears to cause a lung infection, with patients suffering coughing, breathing difficulties and a temperature. But Mers differs in that it can cause rapid kidney failure.

(Source: GulfNews.com)