MERS-CoV

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome - Corona Virus (MERS-CoV) in Saudi Arabia

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is viral respiratory illness first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012. It is caused by a corona virus called MERS-CoV. Most people who have been confirmed to have MERS-CoV infection developed severe acute respiratory illness. They had fever, cough, and shortness of breath. About 30% of people confirmed to have MERS-CoV infection have died.

Case definition and surveillance guidance

Suspect case (patients who should be tested for MERS-CoV)

• I. A person with fever and community-acquired pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome based on clinical or radiological evidence.
• II. A hospitalized patient with healthcare associated pneumonia based on clinical and radiological evidence.
• III. A person with 1) acute febrile (≥38°C) illness, AND 2) body aches, headache, diarrhea, or nausea/vomiting, with or without respiratory symptoms, AND 3) unexplained leucopenia (WBC<3.5x109/L) and thrombocytopenia (platelets<150x109/L).
• IV. A person (including health care workers) who had protected or unprotected exposure to a confirmed or probable case of MERS-CoV infection and who presents with upper or lower respiratory illness within 2 weeks after exposure.

Probable case

A probable case is a patient in category I or II above with absent or inconclusive laboratory results for MERS-CoV and other possible pathogens who is a close contact of a laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV case or who works in a hospital where MERS-CoV cases are cared for.

Confirmed case

A confirmed case is a suspect case with laboratory confirmation of MERS-CoV infection.

For more details about Infection prevention and control guidelines for patients with (MERS-CoV) infection, Click here

Reference: Ministry of Health - Saudi Arabia