MERS Virus In USA for First Time; CDC Investigating Case of Man Who Traveled From Riyadh to Indiana
ByFor the first time, the Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) has appeared in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed.
According to CNN, the man flew from Riyadh to London, then to Chicago before taking a bus to Indiana. After leaving Saudi Arabia April 24, he began experiencing shortness of breath, coughing and fever three days later.
On April 28, he checked into the Community Hospital in Munster, Indiana after being taken to the emergency room there the same day. Despite being of low risk to the general public, he is isolated at the hospital, but is in stable condition.
The CDC confirmed the man had MERS Friday and Indiana's health department is assisting in an investigation. He more than likely brought MERS to the U.S. from Saudi Arabia, the virus' place of origin.
"The CDC, IDPH (Illinois Department of Public Health) and CDPH (Chicago Department of Public Health) do not consider passengers on the flight or bus to be close contacts of the patient and therefore are not at high risk," Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck, director of the IDPH, told CNN.
Chicago officials said no one at the O'Hare International Airport is or ever was at risk.
Part of the CDC's investigation will be to track down the man's seatmates on his two flights and one bus ride, NBC News reported.
"On April 24, the patient traveled by plane from Saudi Arabia to London, then from London to Chicago," the CDC said in a statement. "The patient then took a bus from Chicago to Indiana. On the 27th, the patient began to experience signs of illness, including shortness of breath and coughing. The patient went to an emergency department on April 28th. Because of the patient's symptoms and travel history, Indiana public health officials had him tested for MERS."
The Saudi Arabian Health Ministry reported 25 new cases this week, Reuters reported, bringing the total amount of infections to 396. The country has also confirmed 109 people have died from MERS.