Bedouin kissing GF

Middle East respiratory syndrome

EPIDEMIOLOGY, INFECTIOUS DISEASE

A viral respiratory illness first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012 caused by a novel coronavirus known as MERS-CoV.

Clinical findings Severe acute respiratory illness with fever, cough, and shortness of breath; half of those infected have died.

Countries with confirmed cases

Middle East respiratory syndrome epidemiology

• Arab countries Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Tunisia, UAE

• Europe France, Italy, UK, USA (2 patients)

There have been no new reported cases in the USA since 2014

Animal vector Camel

Prevention

• Obsessive hand washing

• Avoid close contact with MERS patients

• Don’t touch mucocutaneous surfaces with hands

• Disinfect surfaces

• And don’t ever, EVER kiss your camel*

*No matter how sexy she looks…did you hear me Ahmad?

Reference http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/mers/