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Current MERS poses low risk to EU countries: ECDC

Xinhua, June 11, 2015 Adjust font size:

The current Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) outbreak poses a low risk to the EU countries, according to the latest assessment by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) on Thursday.

The agency said while the outbreak so far did not represent an increased risk of infection for travelers to South Korea, "EU citizens travelling to the Middle East and South Korea need to be aware of the presence of MERS-CoV in these areas, especially in healthcare facilities."

"Travelers who have visited healthcare facilities in the Middle East and South Korea who develop respiratory symptoms up to 14 days after return should seek medical attention, indicating their travel history," the assessment report said.

Meanwhile, the assessment report highlighted "the importance of rapid consideration of MERS-CoV and strict adherence to infection control measures in healthcare settings".

"Rigorous implementation of infection prevention and control measures in hospitals is essential to interrupt transmission and prevent clusters of infection. Detecting rare imported cases early on is a challenge that highlights the need for adequate infection prevention and control measures for all patients showing symptoms of acute respiratory infection," the report said.

Currently, MERS-CoV continues to evolve in South Korea, where 107 confirmed cases and nine deaths have been reported so far. Endit