Patient Dies Of Suspected Mers Infection in Sanglah

Denpasar (Antara Bali) - A fifty-year-old patient (AS), who is suspected to have contracted the MERS infection, died at the Sanglah General Hospital in Denpasar, Bali, on Wednesday.

"We are still awaiting confirmation from the local health services if the test result of the patient was positive or negative," stated the hospital`s Head of medical support, Dr Ken Wirasandhi.

He reported that the patient had a history of chronic obstructive lung disease and heart conditions and had complained of breathing problems and coughing a month ago.

The result of an X-ray confirmed the presence of chronic obstructive lung disease, but in April, the patient went for a minor Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia where the disease was firstly reported and was in that country for a week. On April 10, he went to a lung clinic at the Sanglah Hospital.

"A lab examination has been carried out on the patient and based on its result no signs of MERS coronavirus infection had been detected," he reiterated.

Based on an X-ray examination, a chronic lung disease had been detected causing impaired lung functioning, Ken explained.

"Perhaps, the patient was a chain smoker and had been suffering from the chronic lung disease since long that contributed to a decline in lung functioning or he might have suffered from fatigue and dust inhalation that made his lung disease to emerge and worsen his condition," he pointed out.

Ken remarked that a patient with suspected MERS infection must be kept under observation and isolation, as he can spread the disease to others while coughing and sneezing.

"A patient suffering from the virus is more likely to die if he has other complications, such as diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, and heart condition," Ken noted. (*/M038)