The United Arab Emirates announced its first case of the new coronavirus, in a family from Wuhan, in what is thought to be the first confirmed case in the Middle East.
"The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention announced a case of the new coronavirus affecting people from one family coming from the city of Wuhan in China," the state news agency WAM reported. "The health condition of those affected was stable and under medical monitoring," it cited the ministry as saying.
The UAE health ministry said it has taken “all the necessary precautions” in line with standards approved by the World Health Organisation.
The disease has spread to more than 15 countries since it emerged out of Wuhan late last year, with the death toll soaring to 132 and confirmed infections nearing 6,000.
All confirmed fatalities have so far been in China. Confirmed cases have been reported across the Asia Pacific region and in North America and Europe, but the Wuhan family in the UAE appear to be the first in the Middle East.
