Current Status in Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus

Abstract

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) which was first described in 2012, belongs to the CoV family. Coronaviruses may cause global outbreaks with high mortality. Although there is no definite evidence, it is thought that bats are reservoir hosts and one-humped camels are intermediate hosts. According to the World Health Organization data, 1,698 MERS-CoV cases were identified as of March, 23th, 2016 with 609 (36%) deaths. Most of the cases were seen in Saudi Arabia. South Korea is the country following Saudi Arabia where most of the cases developed through in-hospital spread. There is no reported case from Turkey except a Turkish patient returning from Saudi Arabia. In Saudi Arabia, there was a marked peak in new cases during April 2014 and May 2014. Although there was no spesific symptom or laboratory finding that belongs to MERS-CoV, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome and acute renal failure were the most common clinical conditions. Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, congestive hearth failure and chronic renal failure were usually the main predisposing diseases. Real-time polymerase chain reaction is the gold standard for diagnosis and lower respiratory samples are preferred because of high viral load. There is no spesific treatment for MERS-CoV but there are reports showing decreased viral load with ribavirin-interferon combination. Strict and correct personal protective equipment use is the most important factor for preventing the spread of the disease.

Keywords

• Interferon
• Arabian Peninula
• epidemiology
• Middle East respiratory syndrome
• Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus