Lebanon has registered its first case of the deadly MERS corona virus, but the person who contracted it was released after showing signs of recovery, the ministry said Thursday.
Lebanon has registered its first case of the deadly MERS corona virus, but the person who contracted it was released after showing signs of recovery, the ministry said Thursday.
The news came as Saudi Arabia, the country worst hit by the disease, announced four more deaths, bringing the toll to 121 since its first appearance there in September 2012.
"On Thursday afternoon, a patient who had been in hospital was diagnosed as being a carrier" of the virus, the ministry said, adding that the patient left the hospital after treatment "led to a significant improvement in his health."
The ministry said "citizens have no cause for panic. They should take normal precautions to prevent respiratory diseases."
It added that it was carrying out studies to "assure itself that there no epidemic in Lebanon" and urged doctors and hospitals to "take maximum precautions and inform the ministry of any suspect cases."
In the context of prevention against MERS Coronavirus, 
Health Minister Wael Abu Faour gave his directives to ensure that all passengers arriving at Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut undergo Thermal Imaging testing.
Thermal cameras record the various infrared radiation (heat wave) emitted by the bodies and varying with their temperatures. So they can determine if passengers have a fever - a sign of a possible Coronavirus infection.
Coronavirus (MERS) is considered less contagious but more deadly than the virus causing Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) which caused nearly 800 deaths worldwide in 2003.
Abou Faour had toured the airport with head of the Health Parliamentary Committee, MP Atef Majdalani, in order to indicate the measures taken to prevent the entry of this virus to Lebanon.
"Samples from individuals suspected of carrying the virus were analyzed and it turned out there was no case of Coronavirus (MERS) in Lebanon," he assured.
