Fatima Noman
Al-Iman General Hospital Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Title: "Middle East Respiratory Syndrome... Lessons learnt"
Biography
Biography: Fatima Noman
Abstract
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is viral respiratory illness that is new to humans. It was first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and has since spread to several other countries, including the United States.
The emergence of this new coronavirus is globally recognized as an important and major challenge for all of the countries which have been affected as well as the rest of the world.
All reported cases have been linked to countries in and near the Arabian Peninsula. either lived in the Arabian Peninsula or recently traveled from the Arabian Peninsula before they became ill, or close contact with an infected person who had recently traveled from the Arabian Peninsula. The virus appears to have originated in bats.
Serological evidence shows that these viruses have infected camels for at least 20 years
As till 1st March 2015, There are 920, lab confirmed cases, with 395 deaths in KSA
Many mysteries are still unsolved, Ministry of Health KSA is also working in collaboration with WHO teams.
Exact mode of transmission is unknown. Most clusters are reported among family contacts or in a health care setting. No evidence of sustained transmission among humans. . Secondary cases appear to have a milder disease than that of primary cases. Occasional possible tertiary cases reported
Infection in health care workers accounts for 13%. Standard, contact, and airborne precautions are recommended for management of hospitalized patients with known/suspected MERS-CoV infection.
There is evidence of a seasonal transmission pattern (March-April onwards). A rise in cases since end of January in 2015.