First MERS cases confirmed in Iran

WHO has reported the first two laboratory-confirmed cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS, coronavirus in Iran.

The National IHR Focal Point of Iran reported the cases to WHO on May 26. The patients are sisters and residents of Kerman province.

One patient is a 52-year-old woman with an underlying medical condition who became ill and was admitted to the hospital May 11. She does not have a history of travel, but did report close contact with a woman with influenza-like illness who had traveled to Saudi Arabia. The patient also had no history of animal contact or consumption of raw camel products within the 14 days before illness onset. She is currently in critical condition.

The second patient is a 50-year-old woman who had close contact with her sister. She became ill May 11 and was hospitalized May 17. She also has an underlying medical condition. She reported no history of travel, contact with animals or consumption of raw camel products within the 14 days before illness onset. She is currently in stable condition.

The close contacts of the sisters, including family members, other patients in the hospital and health care workers are under investigation by health authorities in Iran. The hospital where the sisters are being treated has put some control measures in place.

According to WHO, there have been 683 laboratory-confirmed cases of MERS, including 204 deaths.