Two suspected cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), which temporarily closed Manchester ROyal Infirmary’s A&E unit on Monday have proved negative.
The two patients were isolated for treatment, but the hospital said that there was “no significant risk to public health”.
In a statement confirming the negative results, Public Health England (PHE) said:
“PHE can confirm that two individuals were tested for MERS-CoV in Manchester yesterday. These cases were separate and unrelated. The results of both tests were negative.
“Manchester Royal Infirmary A&E is open to the public. We would like to reassure our patients and the general public that there is no significant risk to public health.”
PHE said there have been 316 test for MERS across the UK in the last two years, but all have proved negative. The last last positive case in the UK was in February 2013.
Symptoms of MERS-CoV include fever and cough that progress to a severe pneumonia causing shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In some cases, a diarrheal illness has been the first symptom to appear.
There is no vaccine available for MERS-CoV.