Disease

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar

Between 21 April and 29 May 2017, the National IHR Focal Point of Saudi Arabia reported 25 additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection including six fatal cases. On 16 May 2017, the IHR NFP of the United Arab Emirates reported two (2) additional case of MERS-CoV. On 23 May 2017, the National IHR Focal Point of Qatar reported one additional case of MERS-CoV.

England: Syphilis

While the overall sexually transmitted infections (STI) reported last year in England saw a decrease, syphilis cases bucked this trend with a 12 percent increase in 2016 compared to 2015. There were 5,920 diagnoses of syphilis reported in 2016 in England, the most cases reported since 1949.

Bird Flu in Zimbabwe

Botswana has banned poultry products from neighbouring Zimbabwe after an outbreak of the H5N8 strain of bird flu was reported at the weekend.

Zimbabwean state media Tuesday identified the affected poultry farm as belonging to Irvine’s, a leading poultry and egg producer. Affected units had been put under quarantine. The paper confirmed that 7,000 of Irvine's chickens had died from the virus, and another 140,000 had been slaughtered to curb the spread of the disease.