MERS in the Arabian Peninsula
What is the Current Situation?
Cases of MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) have been identified in multiple countries in the Arabian Peninsula. There have also been cases in several other countries in travelers who have been to the Arabian Peninsula and, in some instances, their close contacts. One case has been confirmed in the United States in a traveler who had recently been to Saudi Arabia. For more information, see CDC’s MERS website.
If you are traveling to countries in or near the Arabian Peninsula,* CDC recommends that you pay attention to your health during and after your trip. You should see a doctor right away if you develop fever and symptoms of lower respiratory illness, such as cough or shortness of breath, within 14 days after traveling from countries in or near the Arabian Peninsula. Tell the doctor about your recent travel.
CDC does not recommend that travelers change their plans because of MERS. Most instances of person-to-person spread have occurred in health care workers and other close contacts (such as family members and caregivers) of people sick with MERS. If you are concerned about MERS, you should discuss your travel plans with your doctor.
Special advice for people traveling to the Arabian Peninsula to work in health care settings
If you are traveling to provide health care services in the Arabian Peninsula, please review CDC’s recommendations for infection control of confirmed or suspected MERS cases. CDC recommends that you practice these precautions and monitor your health closely.
What is MERS?
MERS is caused by a coronavirus known as MERS-CoV; coronaviruses cause a variety of illnesses, from the common cold to SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), which caused a global epidemic in 2003. MERS-CoV is different from any other coronavirus that has been previously found in people. Symptoms of MERS have included fever, cough, and shortness of breath. CDC is working with the World Health Organization and other partners to understand the public health risks from this virus.
What can travelers do to prevent MERS?
People traveling to provide health care services in the Arabian Peninsula should review CDC’s recommendations for infection control of confirmed or suspected MERS cases.
All travelers can take these everyday actions to help prevent the spread of germs and protect against colds, flu, and other illnesses:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use analcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Germs spread this way.
- Avoid close contact with sick people.
- Be sure you are up-to-date with all of your shots, and if possible, see your health care provider at least 4–6 weeks before travel to get any additional shots.
- Visit CDC’s Travelers’ Health website for more information on healthy travel.
- If you are sick:
- Cover your mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and throw the tissue in the trash.
- Avoid contact with other people to keep from infecting them.
- See a doctor if you develop a fever and symptoms of lower respiratory illness, such as cough or shortness of breath, within 14 days after traveling from countries in or near the Arabian Peninsula.* You should tell the doctor about your recent travel.
Clinician Information:
Health care providers should be alert to patients who develop severe acute lower respiratory illness (e.g., requiring hospitalization) within 14 days after traveling from countries in the Arabian Peninsula* or neighboring countries, excluding those who transited at airports without entering the countries.
- Consider other more common causes of respiratory illness, such as influenza.
- Evaluate patients using CDC’s case definitions and guidance.
- Immediately report patients with unexplained respiratory illness and who meet CDC’s criteria for “patient under investigation (PUI)” to CDC through the state or local health department.
- A PUI is a person with the following characteristics:
- Fever (≥38°, 100.4°F) and pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome (based on clinical or radiologic evidence)
AND EITHER - History of travel from countries in or near the Arabian Peninsula* within 14 days before symptom onset
OR - Close contact** with a symptomatic traveler who developed fever and acute respiratory illness (not necessarily pneumonia) within 14 days after traveling from countries in or near the Arabian Peninsula*
OR - Is a member of a cluster of patients with severe acute respiratory illness (such as fever and pneumonia requiring hospitalization) of unknown etiology in which MERS-CoV is being evaluated, in consultation with state and local health departments
- Fever (≥38°, 100.4°F) and pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome (based on clinical or radiologic evidence)
- Collect specimens for MERS-CoV testing from all PUIs.
- Contact your state or local health department if you have any questions.
- See additional recommendations and guidance on CDC’s MERS website.
- Health departments with questions should contact CDC’s Emergency Operations Center (770-488-7100).
Additional Information:
- CDC Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)
- Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) Interim Guidance for Airline Crew: Report Ill Travelers on Flights Arriving to the United States (CDC Quarantine site)
- WHO Coronavirus Infection
- Novel Coronavirus, Public Health England
- ECDC: Updates to Rapid Risk Assessment on MERS-CoV (PDF)
- Update: Recommendations for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). MMWR July 12, 2013/62 (27); 557.
- Update: Severe Respiratory Illness Associated with a Novel Coronavirus—Worldwide, 2012–2013 MMWR March 7, 2013/62 (Early Release); 1–2
- Severe Respiratory Illness Associated with a Novel Coronavirus — Saudi Arabia and Qatar, 2012 MMWR October 12, 2012/61; 820–820.
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