MERS-coronavirus: From discovery to intervention

Abstract

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) still causes outbreaks despite public awareness and implementation of health care measures, such as rapid viral diagnosis and patient quarantine. Here we describe the current epidemiological picture of MERS-CoV, focusing on humans and animals affected by this virus and propose specific intervention strategies that would be appropriate to control MERS-CoV. One-third of MERS-CoV patients develop severe lower respiratory tract infection and succumb to a fatal outcome; these patients would require effective therapeutic antiviral therapy. Because of the lack of such intervention strategies, supportive care is the best that can be offered at the moment. Limiting viral spread from symptomatic human cases to health care workers and family members, on the other hand, could be achieved through prophylactic administration of MERS-CoV neutralizing antibodies and vaccines. To ultimately prevent spread of the virus into the human population, however, vaccination of dromedary camels – currently the only confirmed animal host for MERS-CoV – may be the best option to achieve a sustained drop in human MERS cases in time. In the end, a One Health approach combining all these different efforts is needed to tackle this zoonotic outbreak.

A new threat from an old enemy: Re‑emergence of coronavirus (Review)

“…For MERS-coV infections, taking as an example the early SARS-coV-1 epidemic, supportive care was primarily used, and in some instances broad-spectrum antibacterials, antivirals such as ribavirin alone or in combination with interferon-2α2b (94,95) and antifungals have been used to prevent the co-infection with other opportunistic pathogens (96,97). Mycophenolic acid is another drug that exhibited efficacy in monotherapy on a small number of patients; however further studies are required to confirm these effects (98,99).…”

New and emerging infectious diseases (Ebola, Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome coronavirus, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, Candida auris): Focus on environmental survival and germicide susceptibility

“…The history of MERS has been reviewed. [61][62][63] MERS, a new viral respiratory disease of humans, was first described in 2012 and later discovered to be caused by a novel coronavirus, MERS-CoV (lineage 2C b CoV). The WHO has reported that between 2012 and December 2018, there were 2,279 laboratory-confirmed cases of MERS, including 806 associated deaths (case-fatality rate = 35.3%), reported globally.…”

An opportunistic Pathogen Afforded Ample Opportunities: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus

“…evidence. [54][55][56] In addition, alpacas have been found to be naturally infected. [63] Virus genetically detected or biologically cultured from humans is nearly identical to that isolated from camels and, in some instances, has been used to identify transmission routes.…”