MUNSTER (May 8, 2014) – The man diagnosed with the first case of MERS in the U.S. remains in good condition and is getting better every day, doctors say.
The patient is being treated at Community Hospital in Munster. He was diagnosed with Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome after coming to the U.S. from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He arrived in Chicago before coming to Munster.
Doctors said other patients and visitors at the hospital were not at risk because the man was in a private setting when he arrived. MERS requires extremely close contact in order to spread from person to person, health officials said.
Both the Indiana State Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control commended Community Hospital for quickly isolating the patient and diagnosing him. Employees who had direct contact with the man remain in home isolation. So far, their tests have come back negative for MERS. They are still being monitored for symptoms, hospital officials said.
The patient is expected to be released from the hospital soon. Once discharged, he’ll be placed on home isolation until his symptoms abate and health officials determine he’s no longer infectious.
