First coronavirus case detected in Lebanon

Lebanese Health Minister Wael Abou Faour announced on Thursday afternoon that the first case of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus has been detected in Lebanon, Naharnet reported. "One person has been diagnosed with MERS, and he was being treated at a hospital in the country,” the minister further said. But Abou Faour noted that the infected patient “has left the hospital after recovery.” Ministry sources said that the man, who is a Lebanese national, arrived in Lebanon coming from a Gulf country. Earlier in the day, the minister denied that any MERS cases were detected in Lebanon, stressing that all precautions have been taken at the Rafik Hariri International Airport. “We took some measures at the airport. Two thermal cameras were installed to detect individuals with high body temperatures, the first indicator for infections with the MERS virus.” Abu Faour's comments came after touring the airport accompanied by head of the Public Health parliamentary committee Atef Majdalani where they inspected the measures taken at the airport to halt possible entry of infected individuals to Lebanon.