MERS-CoV in Oman

06 Nov 2017

The Ministry of Health in Oman confirmed a case of MERS-CoV on 1 November 2017

The patient is in his twenties and is in a stable condition in hospital. Local has not been given by MoH. This only the second case of MERS-CoV reported in Oman in 2017.

Advice for Travellers

The risk associated with MERS-CoV to the general UK population and travellers to the Middle East remains very low.

Travellers to the Middle East or other countries reporting cases (check individual country pages on fitfortravel) are advised to:

• Avoid close contact with people suffering from respiratory infections.
• Wash-hands frequently, especially after direct contact with ill people or their environment.
• Avoid close contact with live farm or wild animals.
• Avoid contact with camels.
• Avoidconsumption of raw camel milk/urine, undercooked camel meat or camel products.
• Adhere to food safety and hygiene rules, such as avoiding undercooked meats, raw fruits and vegetables unless they have been peeled, or unsafe water.
• Adhere to respiratory hygiene measures if acute respiratory illness develops-  maintain distance, cover coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues or clothing, and wash hands after disposing of tissues or coughing.

Travellers to the Middle East and or other countries reporting cases (check individual country pages on fitfortravel) who develop high fever, cough or severe illness either during travel or after their return should seek medical attention and share their history of travel.

For further advice see Middle East Respiratory Syndrome.