MEDICAL UPDATE: Middle East-MERS-CoV. According to WHO, 2 imported cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) have been reported in Algeria in travelers who returned from an Umra pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia during the last week of May 2014. Saudi Arabias Deputy of Health Minister in charge of the MERS public health response has been removed from his position and follows the removal of the Minister of Health 6 weeks ago. Additionally, Irans Ministry of Health has reported 2 cases of MERS-CoV in the southeastern province of Kerman since the end of May 2014. Thus far, 692 laboratory-confirmed cases (218 deaths) have been reported since April 2012. Roughly 75% of the recent cases are secondary cases and attributable to human-to-human transmission. Because the reservoir, source, and mode of transmission remains unknown, travelers to affected countries, especially those with underlying health conditions, should practice good personal hygiene (e.g. handwashing, cough and sneeze etiquette keeping a distance of at least 1 meter/3 feet from persons with acute febrile respiratory symptoms), avoid wild or farm animals and camels, and avoid the consumption of camel products (e.g. unpasteurized milk, undercooked meat, and urine). Measures such as entry point screening or travel restrictions are not recommended at this time, though WHO does recommend heightened vigilance and surveillance for early detection of possible sustained human-to-human transmission.
Posted on: Tue, 03 Jun 2014 22:02:27 +0000
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