On the NETEC Situation Report for September 7, 2023, Dr. Syra Madad, a NETEC expert and infectious disease epidemiologist at NYC Health + Hospitals, provides an update on Middle East Respiratory Syndrome.
One: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, MERS, is a viral respiratory illness caused by the MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV). To date, all reported cases have been linked to travel to or residence in countries in or near the Arabian Peninsula. Dromedary camels are the primary host of MERS-CoV, and humans can be infected through direct or indirect contact. Human-to-human transmission can occur through close contact, as may occur when caring for or living with an infected person.
Two: Saudi Arabia has reported three laboratory-confirmed cases of MERS, including two deaths, in the last year. The World Health Organization released an update on the situation on August 29, 2023, saying it expects that additional cases of MERS will be reported from countries where MERS-CoV is circulating in dromedary camels and that cases may be exported to other countries.
Three: Symptoms of MERS range from asymptomatic to severe respiratory illness, including fever, cough, and shortness of breath. There currently is no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment recommended for MERS infection. Infection prevention and control measures are the key to preventing the possible spread of MERS in health care settings. Health care workers should follow an identify, isolate, and inform strategy, and use appropriate PPE and infection control precautions to prevent human-to-human transmission of MERS.
Learn more about MERS and find health care-related resources: [ Ссылка ]
