Middle East Respiratory Syndrome

Abstract

This syndrome has raised global public health concerns about the dissemination of an emerging infectious disease and highlights the need for a coordinated global response to contain such a disease threat.

Emerging infectious diseases: Focus on infection control issues for novel coronaviruses (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-CoV and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-CoV), hemorrhagic fever viruses (Lassa and Ebola), and highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses, A(H5N1) and A(H7N9)

“…The MERS is a new viral respiratory disease of humans first described in 2012 and caused by a novel coronavirus (lineage 2C β CoV). [86][87][88][89] The microbiology, epidemiology, and clinical manifestations of SARS and MERS have been compared. 72,[90][91][92]…”

Critically Ill Patients with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection

“…Symptomatic cases manifest after an incubation period of 2-14 days [21]. Most severe cases have been reported in adults with chronic comorbidities, including diabetes mellitus, chronic cardiac disease, chronic lung disease, end-stage kidney disease, or immunosuppression [21,22].…”

“…Common laboratory abnormalities include leukopenia, lymphocytopenia, and thrombocytopenia, elevated serum creatinine and lactate dehydrogenase, and altered liver enzymes [21]. Initial chest radiographs are abnormal in most symptomatic patients and findings range from minimal abnormalities to extensive bilateral infiltrates [21].…”

“…Data on ribavirin, interferon, and convalescent plasma are limited [21]. A study in rhesus macaques found that a combination of interferon-α2b and ribavirin was associated with a reduction in MERSCoV replication and improved outcome [45].…”

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome: Global Outbreak Data Analysis

“…The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is one of the deadliest and least understood emerging pathogens in the 21st century and continues to pose a threat to global public health because of its high fatality rate [1]. As of January 22, 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported 1,626 laboratory confirmed cases of MERS-CoV, including at least 586 related deaths in 26 countries worldwide [2].…”