Two Orlando Health Workers Cleared of MERS
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
By: Matthew Peddie

May 14th, 2014 | WMFE, Orlando- Two hospital staff members who were being monitored for MERS Co-V have tested negative for the potentially deadly virus.

[Officials from Orlando Health and The Florida Department of Health Discuss the MERS virus at a press conference Tuesday. Photo: Ernest Duffoo, WMFE]

The two health team members started showing symptoms of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome after coming in contact with a 44 year old Saudi Arabian man who was admitted to Dr. P Phillips Hospital with MERS last Friday. 

Orlando Health said Wednesday morning that tests showed the two staff- including one who was hospitalized on Monday- do not have MERS. 

Orlando Health is still waiting on test results on 18 other healthcare workers from Dr. P Phillips Hospital and Orlando Regional Medical Center. 

The MERS patient is still in isolation at Dr. P Phillips Hospital. 

The hospital says he has been fever free for 24 hours and "clinically is doing well."

145 people have died from MERS worldwide since its outbreak in 2012.