First fatal MERS-CoV case in Malaysia
Published on: Thursday, April 17, 2014
Putra Jaya: The Health Ministry on Wednesday announced the first Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) fatality in the country when a man who returned from performing the umrah (minor haj) died due to the virus on April 13. In this fatal MERS-CoV case, also the first in Asean, the 54-year-old man from Batu Pahat, Johor who returned from the Holy Land on March 29 complained of fever, cough and breathing difficulties for 10 days and was admitted to the Sultanah Nora Ismail Hospital on April 10. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam said investigations found the cause of death was severe Pneumonia Secondary to MERS-CoV.
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"We are now carrying preventive measures such as monitoring those who had close contacts with the victim including 15 other fellow umrah pilgrims for one or two weeks," he told a media conference here Wednesday. "For this purpose also, members of the public who took Turkish Airlines flights TK93 and TK60 from Jeddah-Istanbul-Kuala Lumpur on March 29 have been told to contact the ministry for monitoring," he said. Subramaniam said for the time being, the source and method of the MERS-CoV infection has yet to be identified and also there were no vaccines available for the infection. "We were told the victim who was a diabetic had visited a camel farm but it could not be confirmed whether the virus was contracted from the animals," he said.
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He advised people planning to go for the umrah or visit any country in the Middle East to take precautionary measures.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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The Minister said those who returned from Middle Eastern countries with symptoms such as fever, cough and pain should seek medical attention immediately.
