Number of MERS Virus Cases Underestimated in Saudi Arabia

The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) has been an epidemic in Saudi Arabia, with over 570 confirmed cases and 190 deaths since 2012. But new reports have added to these totals, including an additional 113 cases and 92 deaths.

Saudi Arabia dismissed Abdullah al-Rabeeah from his position as health minister after the way he handled the onset of the MERS outbreak. Adel Fakieh is currently filling in as the acting health minister, and he fired the country's deputy health minister, Dr. Ziad Memish, yesterday for his handling of the MERS situation as well.

After a review of the country's health data, it was revealed that there have been 688 confirmed MERS cases and 282 deaths. Previous numbers were lower as was the fatality rate. International scientists criticized Dr. Memish's handling of the MERS virus outbreak, so it's no surprise the miscalculation of the numbers occurred under his watch.

"Number one, Saudi Arabia needs to make sure it has appropriate infection control practices in hospitals, where cases are being transmitted, and number two, they need to do the case-control study that will hopefully tell them how people are getting infected," said David Heyman, the chairman of Public Health England, in this Al Jazeera America article. The MERS situation has been part of an international effort to thwart the disease as it has spread to nearly 20 countries since 2012.

The virus made its way to the United States in May, infecting a man from Indiana and another in Orlando; both men traveled to Saudi Arabia prior to their confirmed infection. But the majority of cases and deaths have occurred in Saudi Arabia, where government officials have met with the World Health Organization as well as drug manufacturers to figure out ways to mitigate the spread and develop a vaccine.

As a result of the miscalculation of MERS cases and deaths, the Saudi Arabian Health Ministry announced that they are implementing new measures to ensure more accurate gathering of data, including the standardization of testing and better guidelines for labeling and storing samples of the virus. Saudi Arabia and the international community are focused on solving this public health issue as soon as possible because Ramadan will take place in July, followed by Hajj in October.