Doha: The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) declared a confirmed case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in Qatar.
In a statement published on its website, MoPH stated that the patient is a 50-year-old male resident who had a direct contact with camels.
"The patient has been admitted to the hospital to receive the necessary medical care in accordance with the national protocol to deal with confirmed or suspected cases of the disease," the Ministry stated.
It further mentioned that all those who had contact with the patient "are free of symptoms and will be monitored for 14 days as per the national protocols".
The Ministry of Public Health, in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, affirmed that it is taking all necessary preventive and precautionary measures to control the disease and prevent it from spreading.
MERS is a viral respiratory disease that is caused by one of the coronaviruses (MERS-CoV), but it differs from the novel Coronavirus known as (COVID19).
Both viruses differ in terms of the source of infection, mode of transmission, and the disease severity.
MoPH called on all members of the public, especially those with chronic diseases or those with immunodeficiency disorders, to adhere to public hygiene measures. These measures include washing hands regularly with water and soap, using hand sanitizers, as well as avoiding contact with camels and seeking medical advice when experiencing symptoms of fever, cough, sore throat, or shortness of breath.
