The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) seems to have a lower pandemic potential than previously thought. At least this is the conclusion of several studies and one editorial published in the "International Journal of Infectious Diseases".
One study examined 70 cases in Saudi Arabia that emerged between October 2012 and March 2014. 60 per cent of the patients - mainly those above the age of 65 - died. The most crucial risk factor for infection was healthcare exposure. However, in an intensive care unit setting, where strict infection controls were applied, the risk of infection was minimised - only one health care worker was infected and none of the patients.
A second study carried out by universities in Saudi Arabia and the USA assessed how long those affected shed the virus into their environment. Samples from 26 persons (13 infected, 13 contacts) showed that this continued for quite some time. After twelve days, 76 per cent of people with MERS and 30 per cent of contacts were still sources of the virus. Prolonged infection control measures are thus meaningful, the experts concluded.
Another analysis described the preventive measures that would be applied in the case of a hospital outbreak in Oman. Subsequently, in an accompanying editorial, the researchers summarise that all these factors together indicate that an epidemic or a pandemic is unlikely. Most of the transmissions occurred within a hospital setting, and, according to investigations, transmission via public transportation is only a minor risk factor. Extensive infection control measures should therefore suffice to limit transmissions, the report stated.
Univadis
