Florida health officials announcing a second US case of MERS; news conference scheduled
NEW YORK, N.Y. – Health officials have confirmed a second U.S. case of a mysterious virus that has sickened hundreds in the Middle East.
A news conference to discuss the case has been scheduled for Monday afternoon by the Florida Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The virus is MERS, or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. It is a respiratory illness that begins with flu-like fever and cough but can lead to shortness of breath, pneumonia and death. A third of those who develop symptoms die from it.
Most cases have been in Saudi Arabia or the Middle East. But earlier this month a first U.S. case was diagnosed in a man who travelled from Saudi Arabia to Indiana.
Officials did not immediately release other details about the newest case.
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