KUWAIT, Aug 15 (KUNA) -- A woman with special needs who is suspected of contracting the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) during an overseas trip has been quarantined here, announced Friday Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Hend Sabeeh Al-Sabeeh.
Al-Sabeeh, also Minister of State for Planning and Development Affairs, said that the woman who is a resident of a social care center has been transferred to the communicable diseases hospital for treatment and quarantine till the release of final laboratory tests results and hospital report on the case.
She added that all precautionary measures were taken to ensure the safety of other social center residents as well as to the medical team who has been with the case.
At least three MERS-CoV cases were reported in Kuwait since the new outbreak of the deadly virus in the Gulf region in 2012.
The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), which can cause coughing, fever and pneumonia, has been reported in people in the Gulf, France, Germany, Italy, Tunisia and Britain.
Scientists say they believe dromedary camels in the Middle East may be the animal "reservoir" which is fueling the outbreak. (end) md.ibi