Hospital Workers Test Negative For MERS

ORLANDO (AP) - All of the health care workers who came in contact with a Saudi man infected with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS, have tested negative for the rare virus, according to the Florida Department of Heath.

Officials said in a statement Thursday that they are working closely with Orlando's Dr. P. Phillips Hospital and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ensure appropriate care for the 44-year-old man. He remains hospitalized, but is improving.

The patient with whom the workers came into contact arrived at Phillips on May 8. Three days earlier, the patient had visited Orlando Regional Medical Center.

FDH says there is no broad risk of MERS infection for the general public.

MERS is a respiratory illness that begins with flu-like symptoms, but can lead to shortness of breath, pneumonia and death.

This is only the second confirmed case in the U.S.

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