Researchers recently concluded new studies on Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and determined that it is unlikely that MERS will become an epidemic.
The team analyzed clinical-outcome reports from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to determine how the Sultanate of Oman is handling cases and how long patients remain contagious.
Most MERS-CoV patients have been hospitalized, lessening the likelihood that the virus will be a pandemic or epidemic.
Health professionals have implemented strict infection-control measures — such as isolation, hygiene precautions and one-patient-per-room ratios — to lessen the chance of spreading the disease.
Other studies have shown that MERS-CoV is contagious for a longer period of time than health professionals originally believed. These results reinforce the importance of taking precautions against the disease’s spread.
“These findings highlight the importance of applying infection-control measures in health care facilities where patients with suspected MERS-CoV infection are admitted,” Dr. Ziad Memish, a co-author of the study, said.
The first MERS-CoV case was reported in 2012. It is an emerging virus with a 40 percent mortality rate. More than 97 percent of the cases have been confirmed in the Middle East.
Previous studies show that people over 65 years old who contract MERS-CoV are 4.5 times more likely to die from the disease.
MERS-CoV symptoms include cough, pneumonia, dyspnea and fever. Most MERS-CoV patients require intensive care to fully recover.
More details are available in the International Journal of Infectious Disease.
Source: Vaccine News daily
