MERS situation update: March 2021

The aim of this situation update is to provide the epidemiological status of MERS in the Region in order to aid better planning, coordination and response. The information in this document has been reported to WHO by Ministries of Health. For further information, contact: Tel + 20-2-22765492, Fax + 20-2-2765456 E-mail: emrgohspoutbreak@who Published by World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean Monazamet El Seha El Alamia Str,Extension of Abdel Razak El Sanhouri Street P.O. Box 7608, Nasr City Cairo 11371, Egypt www.emro.who.int © World Health Organization 2021 Highlights MERS SITUATION UPDATE | MARCH 2021 Distribution of MERS reported cases from Eastern Mediterranean Region by week of onset, June 2012 – March 2021 Tunisia United Arab Emirates Bahrain Egypt Iran (Islamic republic of) Jordan Kuwait Lebanon Oman Qatar Yemen Saudi Arabia 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 1116212631364146514 9 14192429343944492 7 1217222732374247524 9 14192429343944492 7 1217222732374247525 1015202530354045503 8 13182328333843482 7 1217222732374247525 1015202530354045503 8 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 N um be r of c as es Epi week At the end of March 2021, a total of 2574 laboratory-confirmed cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), including 886 associated deaths (case–fatality rate: 34.4%) were reported globally; the majority of these cases were reported from Saudi Arabia (2174 cases, including 808 related deaths with a case–fatality rate of 37.2%). During the month of March 2021, two laboratory-confirmed case of MERS were reported from Saudi Arabia. Both cases are within the 50-59 age group and have co-morbidities. The reported cases were not linked to any clusters. One of the cases reported was a female. No healthcare worker infections were reported this month. The demographic and epidemiological characteristics of reported cases, when compared during the same corresponding period of 2015 to 2020, do not show any significant difference or change. The age group 50–59 years continues to be at the highest risk for acquiring infection of primary cases. The age group 30–39 years is most at risk for secondary cases. The number of deaths is higher in the age group 50–59 years for primary cases and 70–79 years for secondary cases. . . . . SUMMARY 2574 Laboratory-confirmed cases reported since April 2012 886 Deaths reported since April 2012 27 Countries reported cases globally 12 Countries reported cases since April 2012 in the Eastern Mediterranean Region Epidemiological characteristics of MERS cases reported globally between October 2015 - March 2016 and October 2020 - March 2021 Characteristic Number Median age in years Gender (% male) % of Primary Cases % of Secondary cases (%) of Unknown Contact History % of HCW % Fatal Oct 15 - Mar 16 123 53 71 35 59 5 11 36 Oct 16 - Mar 17 130 56 76 66 28 7 6 33 Oct 17 - Mar 18 105 55 76 72 28 0 4 35 Oct 18 - Mar 19 149 51 77 40 60 0 11 19 Oct 19 - Mar 20 85 57 80 26 11 63 6 29 Oct 20 - Mar 21 12 56 92 78 0 22 0 42 Characteristics of MERS cases reported from Saudi Arabia, June 2012 - March 2021 Type of case Missing Primary Secondary Unknown Grand Total 2012 3 2 5 2013 1 36 93 28 158 2014 15 164 264 219 662 2015 102 52 222 78 454 2016 103 75 60 11 249 2017 68 70 90 5 233 2018 52 54 35 1 142 2019 56 57 75 16 204 2020 7 11 9 33 60 2021 2 3 2 7 Grand Total 406 525 850 393 2174 MERS cases per week of onset in Saudi Arabia, June 2012 – March 2021 Survived Died Age and fatality distribution of primary and secondary cases of MERS reported from Saudi Arabia June 2012 – March 2021 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 5 10 15 20 25 00-9 10-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80-89 90&> 90 % A ge G ro u p Survived Died Primary Secondary Cases of MERS in healthcare workers reported from Saudi Arabia, January 2013 – March 2021 0 50 100 150 200 250 N u m b er o f ca se s Month Non-HCW HCW Community versus hospital acquired MERS cases in Eastern Mediterranean Region, January 2014 – March 2021 Community acquired Hospital acquired 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 2226303438424650 2 6 1014182226303438424650 1 5 9 1317212529333741454953 4 8 1216202428323640444852 4 8 1216202428323640444852 4 8 1216202428323640444852 4 8 1216202428323640444852 4 8 12162024283236404448 1 5 9 13172125293337414549 1 5 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 N um be r of M ER S ca se s Epi week 1 3 5 7 9 11 1 3 5 7 9 11 1 3 5 7 9 11 1 3 5 7 9 11 1 3 5 7 9 11 1 3 5 7 9 11 1 3 5 7 9 11 1 3 5 7 9 11 1 3 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 20210 50 100 150 200 250 300 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 N u m b er o f ca se s Year Document number: WHO-EM/CSR/415/E