The 69 year old suffering from MERS in critical condition
The taxi driver, who was transporting the patient from the airport to Amfiali, was identified and is subjected to tests.
In critical condition, in the Intensive Care Unit of the First University Pulmonary Clinic of the General Hospital of Chest Diseases "Sotiria", is hospitalized since Monday morning the 69 year old suffering from coronavirus MERS, as his health deteriorated significantly. Meanwhile, on noon Monday the taxi driver was identified from the National Health Operations Centre, who on Holy Thursday transferred the 69 year old from the Athens International Airport to Amfiali, Keratsini. At the same time, all the people who came in contact with the patient were found and all received the necessary tests, with first results being negative.
The services of the Center for Disease Control are vigilant following the discovery of the first laboratory confirmed case of infection with MERS in Greece. Note that the Greek incident is the 10th case of infection from virus diagnosed around Europe. According to scientists, this new virus has no direct relationship with any of the other known coronaviruses, but is accompanied by a disease with significant mortality.
The precautions recommended for protection against MERS are those applicable to other viral respiratory infections, avoiding close contact with people who show symptoms of the disease (coughing, sneezing) and have recently traveled to areas with such risk (Arabian Peninsula). It's emphasized particularly that medical assessment should seek for travelers returning and exhibiting similar symptoms within 14 days of their arrival. All measures to prevent and control spread of the disease to ensure the public health, are already implemented, the Disease Control notes.
