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More MERS coronavirus cases confirmed in Europe

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WHO has reported two new laboratory-confirmed cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS, coronavirus in Italy, bringing the number of cases worldwide to 53 since September. The total number of deaths to date is 30.

Both of the patients in Italy are close contacts of another laboratory-confirmed patient who recently traveled to Jordan. The two latest patients are a 2-year-old girl and a 42-year-old woman, and both are in stable condition.

The outbreak has affected several countries in the Middle East, including Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Cases also have been reported in France, Germany, Tunisia, the United Kingdom and Italy. All of the cases outside of the Middle East had a direct or indirect connection to the Middle East, including two who traveled to the United Arab Emirates. In France and the United Kingdom, there has been limited local transmission to close contacts of travelers to the Middle East.

WHO is continuing to monitor the situation and recommends that physicians test patients with severe acute respiratory infection for the virus, especially among patients who have recently traveled to the Middle East and among patients with atypical signs and symptoms.