MERS: CDC Confirms First U.S. Case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome

"A case of the sometimes fatal Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS, has been reported in Indiana, officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.

The announcement marks the first time a patient with the infection has been identified in the United States, CDC officials said.

“CDC is working closely with the Indiana State Health Department and hospital to rapidly respond to and investigate this situation to help prevent the spread of the virus,” Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said in a news briefing.

That said, she added, this first importation of the bug “represents a very low risk to the broader general public.”"

Amina Khan reports for the Los Angeles Times May 2, 2014.

SEE ALSO:

"MERS Spreads in Saudi; 1st US Case Stable In Hospital" (NBC News)

"1st MERS Virus Case in U.S Concerns California Experts" (San Francisco Chronicle)

"Specter of SARS weighs on CDC as MERS virus lands in U.S." (Reuters)