Confusion abounds over the number and geographic distribution of MERS-CoV cases
Slightly more than 100 cases of Middle East Respiratory Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infections have been reported from around the world. Despite these few numbers, the actual count of cases is uncertain as is the geographic distribution of the cases. The case count varies from 94 to 104 as noted in the table below compiled from several sources. [1,2,3,4] A review of these reports indicates that the variability in the counts results from several factors. First, some reports such as those from the World Health Organization (WHO) are not current and up-to-date. The fact that WHO is not stating the count by individual member states indicates uncertainty about how to report the geolocations of individual cases (see discussion below). Second, some agencies such as WHO only count officially confirmed cases, while other case lists seem to include probable and suspected cases as well. Third, compounding the enumeration problem is that sometimes asymptomatic cases that test positi...