US reports second imported case of MERS

The second case of deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) which initially surfaced in Saudi Arabia in 2012 has been found in the US, health authorities said Monday.

According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the patient is a healthcare worker, residing and working in Saudi Arabia, and is unlinked to the first US imported case of MERS reported May 2 in Indiana.

The patient is isolated at an Orlando hospital, "being well cared for, and is currently doing well", the CDC said in a statement.

According to the US agency, the patient first flew to London and then through Boston and Atlanta, arriving in Orlando May 1.

"The patient reported feeling unwell during the flight from Jeddah to London and continued to feel unwell on subsequent flights with reported symptoms that include fever, chills and a slight cough," it said.

The patient was hospitalised last Friday and diagnosed with the MERS virus Sunday night.

US health officials said that the patient may be infected with the virus in Saudi Arabia, where outbreaks of MERS infection are occurring.