Coronavirus - Photo Credit WHO
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This morning the World Health Organization has released an update on yesterday’s reported MERS-CoV case from Qatar (see Qatar Reports MERS-CoV Case). Unlike neighboring Saudi Arabia – which tends to be parsimonious in their release of MERS patient information - Qatar has provided an impressive amount of epidemiological detail.
The patient, who was hospitalized a week ago - had no history of recent foreign travel or contact with known MERS cases – but does own a farm, where he had contact with many animals including camels, sheep, and poultry.
Testing of these farm animals is ongoing, but so far, none have tested positive for the MERS coronavirus. While bats are strongly believed to be the primary host for this betacoronavirus, one or more (as yet, unidentified) intermediate animal host is suspected to be involved in its transmission.
In August, we saw a study in the Lancet: Camels Found With Antibodies To MERS-CoV-Like Virus, that suggests - but falls short of proving - that camels might be one of those intermediate hosts.
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) - update
Disease outbreak news
18 October 2013 - WHO has been informed of an additional laboratory-confirmed cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection in Qatar.
The patient is a 61-year-old man with underlying medical conditions who was admitted to a hospital on 11 October 2013. He is currently hospitalized and is in a stable condition. The patient was tested positive for MERS-CoV infection in Qatar and was confirmed by the reference laboratory of Public Health England yesterday.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the patient had not travelled outside Qatar in the two weeks prior to becoming ill. The patient owns a farm and has had significant contact with the animals, including camels, sheep and hens. Some of the animals in his farm have been tested and were negative for MERS-CoV. Further investigations into the case and the animals in the farm are ongoing.
Globally, from September 2012 to date, WHO has been informed of a total of 139 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV, including 60 deaths.
Based on the current situation and available information, WHO encourages all Member States to continue their surveillance for severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) and to carefully review any unusual patterns.
Health care providers are advised to maintain vigilance. Recent travellers returning from the Middle East who develop SARI should be tested for MERS-CoV as advised in the current surveillance recommendations.
Specimens from patients’ lower respiratory tracts should be obtained for diagnosis where possible. Clinicians are reminded that MERS-CoV infection should be considered even with atypical signs and symptoms, such as diarrhoea, in patients who are immunocompromised.
Health care facilities are reminded of the importance of systematic implementation of infection prevention and control (IPC). Health care facilities that provide care for patients suspected or confirmed with MERS-CoV infection should take appropriate measures to decrease the risk of transmission of the virus to other patients, health care workers and visitors.
All Member States are reminded to promptly assess and notify WHO of any new case of infection with MERS-CoV, along with information about potential exposures that may have resulted in infection and a description of the clinical course. Investigation into the source of exposure should promptly be initiated to identify the mode of exposure, so that further transmission of the virus can be prevented.
WHO does not advise special screening at points of entry with regard to this event nor does it currently recommend the application of any travel or trade restrictions.
WHO has convened an Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations (IHR) to advise the Director-General on the status of the current situation. The Emergency Committee, which comprises international experts from all WHO Regions, unanimously advised that, with the information now available, and using a risk-assessment approach, the conditions for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) have not at present been met.
