Indonesian Tests Positive for Mers-CoV

Tangerang, Banten (Antara) - An Indonesian has contracted the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus (MERS-CoV) and is currently undergoing treatment in Abu Dhabi, a Health Ministry official said. "An Indonesian citizen has tested positive for MERS-CoV," Secretary of the ministry's directorate general of disease control and sanitation Muhammad Subhan reported on Wednesday. The Indonesian who is a resident of Surabaya in East Java contracted the virus while performing umroh (minor hajj pilgrimage), he said. "The Indonesian has not been allowed to return home after testing positive for the virus," he said. The Indonesian Health Ministry has so far detected 169 suspected cases of MERS-CoV. Of the 169 suspected cases, 161 have been declared negative. Meanwhile, eight people are being monitored. "We will be monitoring the eight people until the next 14 days. We have also examined samples of their blood," he said. "Overall, no suspected case of MERS-CoV infection has been declared positive in Indonesia. Indonesia is still free from MERS-CoV," he said. Subhan said the ministry will always update information on the spread of MERS-CoV once every two days at 07.00 a.m. and 04.00 p.m. local time. (*) Reported by Achmad Irfan