Second Abu Dhabi Mers patient was also camel worker

ABU DHABI // The World Health Organisation has confirmed that a second person who had frequent contact with camels has been diagnosed with Mers coronovirus.

The Health Authority Abu Dhabi revealed that there had been a second reported case of Mers in the emirate.

On Wednesday, the WHO confirmed that the latest patient, a 33-year-old expatriate who worked with camels, had tested positive for Mers on May 17.

The first was a 29-year-old expatriate who was diagnosed on May 13 after transporting camels from Oman to Al Ain.

Both patients were asymptomatic and were being kept in hospital for further testing.

A spokesman for WHO said: “A sample tested positive for Mers on May 17. He was not exposed to other known risk factors in the 14 days prior to detection. He has not shown any symptoms and is in stable condition.”

He said further tests were being carried out on people and objects the two men had been in contact with.

Investigation of human contacts of the Mers infected camels is ongoing in Oman.

Globally, WHO has been notified of 1,135 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with Mers, including at least 427 related deaths.