Emerging Infectious Diseases (Aug 2015)

Occupational Exposure to Dromedaries and Risk for MERS-CoV Infection, Qatar, 2013–2014

  • Chantal B.E.M. Reusken,
  • Elmoubasher A.B.A. Farag,
  • Bart L. Haagmans,
  • Khaled A. Mohran,
  • Gert-Jan Godeke,
  • Stalin Raj,
  • Farhoud Alhajri,
  • Salih A. Al-Marri,
  • Hamad Al-Romaihi,
  • Mohamed Al-Thani,
  • Berend-Jan Bosch,
  • Annemiek A. van der Eijk,
  • Ahmed M. El-Sayed,
  • Adel K. Ibrahim,
  • N. Al-Molawi,
  • Marcel A. Müller,
  • Syed K. Pasha,
  • Sung Sup Park,
  • Mohd M. AlHajri,
  • Marion P.G. Koopmans

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2108.150481
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 21, no. 8
pp. 1422 – 1425

Abstract

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We determined the presence of neutralizing antibodies to Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus in persons in Qatar with and without dromedary contact. Antibodies were only detected in those with contact, suggesting dromedary exposure as a risk factor for infection. Findings also showed evidence for substantial underestimation of the infection in populations at risk in Qatar.

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