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Review
. 2015 May;10(5):497-505.
doi: 10.2217/fvl.15.20. Epub 2015 May 29.

What needs to be done to control the spread of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus?

Michael Edelstein  1 , David L Heymann  1
Affiliations
Review

What needs to be done to control the spread of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus?

Michael Edelstein et al. Future Virol. 2015 May.

Abstract

Up to November 2014, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) has infected 935 individuals and killed 371, all originating in or with links to the Middle East. The mechanisms of transmission of the disease are not fully understood, but MERS-CoV seems to sustain itself in the human population through repeated re-introduction from a camel reservoir and is able to cause nosocomial outbreaks. The risk of a global spread of MERS-CoV is low. Epidemiological, serological and phylogenetic research, combined with one health surveillance, dynamic case definitions, active case finding, rigorous infection control, culturally sensitive risk communication and a continuous re-evaluation of new evidence will enable to better understand the disease, limit its spread and quantify its risk in order to better prepare for a hypothetical spread.

Keywords: coronavirus; disease outbreak; emergency preparedness; surveillance.

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Conflict of interest statement

Financial & competing interests disclosure The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending or royalties. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Figures

<b>Figure 1.</b>
Figure 1.. Distribution of confirmed cases of MERS-CoV by first available date and place of probable infection, March 2012–November 2014 (n = 932).
Adapted with permission from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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