Middle East respiratory syndromecoronavirus (MERS-CoV) 

– Disease Outbreak (Republic of Korea)

On 30 May 2015, the National IHR Focal Point of the Republic of Korea notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of an additional confirmed case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV).

Details of the case are as follows:

The 12th case is a 49-year-old male who is the husband of the 11th case that was reported in a previous DON on 30 May. The patient took care of his wife during her hospitalization from 15 to 17 May. During this period, he shared the same ward with the first case. The patient developed symptoms on 21 May and was admitted to hospital. As symptoms persisted, he was later transferred to the nationally designated medical center. The patient tested positive for MERS-CoV on 29 May. Contact tracing of household contacts and health care contacts is ongoing for the case.

Globally, the WHO has been notified of 1149 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV, including at least 431 related deaths.

WHO advice

Based on the current situation and available information, the WHO encourages all Member States to continue their surveillance for acute respiratory infections and to carefully review any unusual patterns.

Infection prevention and control measures are critical to prevent the possible spread of MERS-CoV in health care facilities. It is not always possible to identify patients with MERS-CoV early because like other respiratory infections, the early symptoms of MERS-CoV are non-specific.Therefore, health-care workers should always apply standard precautions consistently with all patients, regardless of their diagnosis. Droplet precautions should be added to the standard precautions when providing care to patients with symptoms of acute respiratory infection contact precautions and eye protection should be added when caring for probable or confirmed cases of MERS-CoV infection airborne precautions should be applied when performing aerosol generating procedures.

Until more is understood about MERS-CoV, people with diabetes, renal failure, chronic lung disease, and immunocompromised persons are considered to be at high risk of severe disease from MERS‐CoVinfection. Therefore, these people should avoid close contact with animals,particularly camels, when visiting farms, markets, or barn areas where the virus is known to be potentially circulating. General hygiene measures, such as regular hand washing before and after touching animals and avoiding contact with sick animals, should be adhered to.

Food hygiene practices should be observed. People should avoid drinking raw camel milk or camel urine, or eating meat that has not been properly cooked.

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.

Source: http://www.who.int/csr/don/31-may-2015-mers-korea/en/

FOR MORE INFORMATION (SYMPTOMS, PREVENTION AND TREATMENT) of MERS –CoV:

http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/mers/about/index.html

Image: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T2a9x4w9CqQ/VN2ZgJ5fSDI/AAAAAAAAHhk/uBdbDn7E_GY/s1600/MERS-CoV.gif

VOCABULARY:

1. Coronaviruses - Coronaviruses are common throughout the world. They can infect people and animals. Five different coronaviruses can infect people and make them sick. They usually cause mild to moderate-upper-respiratory illness.

2. critical - important

3. renal failure - liver failure

4. immunocompromised - having an impaired immune system.

5. hygiene - conditions or practices conducive to maintaining health and preventing disease, especially through cleanliness.

6. acute respiratory infections - serious infections that prevent normal breathing function. It usually begins as a viral infection in the nose, trachea (windpipe), or lungs. If the infection is not treated, it can spread to the entire respiratory system

DISCUSSION:

1. How well are you informed about this virus?

2. Have you been given government released information since the latest case on May 31?

3. During times like these, how much do you depend on public workers for assistance and information?

4. What are the important things to remember in cases of virus outbreaks?

5. What are the necessary precautions you can initiate to avoidgetting infected by the virus (or other viruses)?