Doctors are on the lookout for any patients with severe respiratory infections who visited the Middle East recently after more deaths from a Sars-like virus were reported in Saudi Arabia over the weekend.
Doctors in Malta have been informed of this situation
“There is no reason for Maltese people to be concerned although symptoms developing in people who have been in the Middle East should raise suspicion of a possible infection,” the Health Ministry said.
Anyone who develops severe respiratory infections and has been in the Arabian Peninsula or neighbouring countries in the preceding 10 days should visit a doctor.
“Doctors in Malta have been informed of this situation,” a ministry spokesman said.
The World Health Organisation said on Saturday, prior to the latest Saudi announcement, that it had been informed of 51 confirmed cases of the new virus – known as Mers – since September, 30 of which were fatal.
Most have been recorded in the Middle East, although three were confirmed in Tuscany on Saturday. All three patients were reported to be in good condition and were being treated in isolation.
One Mers patient died last week in France.
The new virus is related to Sars, which killed about 800 people in a global epidemic in 2003, and belongs to a family of viruses that most often causes the common cold.
Mers is a “threat to the entire world”, WHO general director, Margaret Chan, said last week.
“Malta is in direct communication with WHO, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the Health Security Committee on the situation,” the Health Ministry said.
Mers is a coronavirus that can be transmitted via respiratory secretions. This can happen directly through droplets from coughing or sneezing or indirectly through touching contaminated objects or surfaces as well as close contact, such as touching or shaking hands.
Asked if people should take any precautions against the virus, the ministry spokesman replied: “respiratory etiquette and frequent hand washing is essential to prevent spread in the community.”