Middle East respiratory syndrome

Alimuddin Zumla; David S Hui; Stanley Perlman

doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60454-8

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Journal article

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Peer reviewed

Middle East respiratory syndrome

Alimuddin Zumla, David S Hui and Stanley Perlman

Lancet (London, England), Vol.386(9997), pp.995-1007

09/05/2015

DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60454-8

PMCID: PMC4721578

PMID: 26049252

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Abstract

Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a highly lethal respiratory disease caused by a novel single-stranded, positive-sense RNA betacoronavirus (MERS-CoV). Dromedary camels, hosts for MERS-CoV, are implicated in direct or indirect transmission to human beings, although the exact mode of transmission is unknown. The virus was first isolated from a patient who died from a severe respiratory illness in June, 2012, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. As of May 31, 2015, 1180 laboratory-confirmed cases (483 deaths; 40% mortality) have been reported to WHO. Both community-acquired and hospital-acquired cases have been reported with little human-to-human transmission reported in the community. Although most cases of MERS have occurred in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, cases have been reported in Europe, the USA, and Asia in people who travelled from the Middle East or their contacts. Clinical features of MERS range from asymptomatic or mild disease to acute respiratory distress syndrome and multiorgan failure resulting in death, especially in individuals with underlying comorbidities. No specific drug treatment exists for MERS and infection prevention and control measures are crucial to prevent spread in health-care facilities. MERS-CoV continues to be an endemic, low-level public health threat. However, the virus could mutate to have increased interhuman transmissibility, increasing its pandemic potential.

Epidemics

Coronavirus Infections - diagnosis

Humans

Middle Aged

Child, Preschool

Infant

Male

Coronavirus Infections - transmission

Middle East

Young Adult

Camelus - virology

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus - pathogenicity

Animals

Coronavirus Infections - epidemiology

Coronavirus Infections - therapy

Adolescent

Aged, 80 and over

Adult

Female

Aged

Child

Details

Title: Subtitle: Middle East respiratory syndrome
Creators: Alimuddin Zumla - Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK; NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
David S Hui - Division of Respiratory Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, New Territories, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Stanley Ho Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, New Territories, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
Stanley Perlman - Department of Microbiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA. Electronic address: stanley-perlman@uiowa.edu
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Lancet (London, England), Vol.386(9997), pp.995-1007
DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60454-8
PMID: 26049252
PMCID: PMC4721578
NLM abbreviation: Lancet
ISSN: 1474-547X
eISSN: 1474-547X
Publisher: England
Grant note: AI091322 / NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI091322 / NIAID NIH HHS P01 AI060699 / NIAID NIH HHS AI060699 / NIAID NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 09/05/2015
Academic Unit: Microbiology and Immunology; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Infectious Disease (Pediatrics)
Record Identifier: 9983777474502771

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