Man Dies from MERS Coronavirus in London - East Idaho News
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Man Dies from MERS Coronavirus in London

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Getty N 082611 EmergencyEntrance?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1373018360670Stockbyte/Thinkstock(LONDON) — A Qatari man has died from the MERS coronavirus in London, a hospital spokeswoman confirmed on Thursday.

The man, whose name has not been released, developed symptoms of the virus in September after traveling to Saudi Arabia, according to a spokeswoman from Public Health England.

“He was treated in Saudi Arabia originally, but as his condition worsened he was medically transferred to London for treatment,” the spokeswoman said.

The man, who was 49 years old at the time of the transfer, was subsequently diagnosed with MERS.  He died last Friday at London’s Guy’s and St. Thomas’ hospital after a nine-month battle with the deadly virus.

“Guy’s and St. Thomas’ can confirm that the patient with severe respiratory illness due to novel coronavirus (MERS-nCV) sadly died on Friday 28 June, after his condition deteriorated despite every effort and full supportive treatment,” the hospital said in a statement.

Saudi Arabia has been hardest hit by the outbreak, with at least 62 cases and 36 deaths, according to the Kingdom’s Ministry of Health.

Infections have also emerged in Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Tunisia, Germany, France and Italy, according to the World Health Organization.  All the cases have ties to the Middle East.

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