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Jambi reports pilgrims infected with MERS
Two Jambi residents, who just returned from performing a haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, are reported to have contracted Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), a viral respiratory disease caused by the MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV)
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wo Jambi residents, who just returned from performing a haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, are reported to have contracted Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), a viral respiratory disease caused by the MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV).
They are undergoing medical treatment in an isolation facility at the Pinang Minang Masak pavilion of Raden Mattaher Hospital (RSUD), Jambi.
The pavilion's head, Neli Wirlis, said the two pilgrims suspected of being infected with MERS-CoV were a married couple and were now undergoing intensive treatment.
To confirm MERS-CoV infection in the two patients, RSUD Raden Mattaher, together with the Jambi administration's health agency, conducted laboratory testing.
'We continue to give intensive treatment to the two patients while waiting for lab test results from Jambi Health Agency,' said Neli on Thursday.
The agency's head of disease control and environmental health (P2PL) directorate, Kaswendi, said the married couple showed symptoms that were similar to MERS CoV infection shortly after they arrived in Jambi.
'They developed a high fever, severe cough and are short of breath,' he said.
Dewi Juli Arta, a health official from the Haj Health Team at the Jambi Port Health Office, said the status of the two haj pilgrims was still 'suspected MERS-CoV', as it had not been confirmed yet.
'They are suspected of having contracted MERS-like symptoms one day after a health checkup held at the Indonesian haj health post in Saudi Arabia prior to their departure,' said Dewi. (ebf)(+++)
