The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health implemented a proactive surveillance program for MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV). We report MERS-CoV data from 5,065 KSA individuals who were screened for MERS-CoV over a 12 month period.

Methods : From October 1st, 2012 to September 30th 2013 demographic and clinical data was prospectively collected from all laboratory forms received at the Saudi Arabian Virology reference laboratory. Data were analysed by referral type, age, gender, and MERS-CoV RT-PCR test results.

Findings : 5,065 individuals were screened for MER-CoV: Hospitalized patients with suspected MERS-CoV infection (n=2,908, 57.4%), Health care worker (HCW) contacts (n=1695; 33.5%), and family contacts (FC) of laboratory confirmed MERS cases (n=462; 9.1%). 11% of persons tested were children (<17years old). There were 106 cases (99 adults and 7 children) of MERS-CoV infection detected during the 12 month period (106/5065, 2% case detection rate). Of 106 cases, 44 were females (5 children and 39 adults), and 62 were males (2 children and 60 adults). Of the 99 adults with MERS-CoV infection, 70 were hospitalised patients, 19 were HCW contacts, and 10 family contacts. There was no significant rises in MERS-CoV detection rates over the 12 month period, 2.6% (19/731) in July 2013, 1.7% (19/1100) in August and 1.69% (21/1238) in September 2013. Male patients had a significantly higher MERS-CoV infection rate (62/2318, 2.6%) than females (44/2747, 1.7%) (P=0.013).

Interpretation : MERS-CoV rates remain at low levels with no significant increase over time. Proactive surveillance for MERS-CoV in newly diagnosed patients and their contacts will continue.

Authors : Ziad A Memish, Jaffar A Al-Tawfiq, Hatem Q Makhdoom, Abdullah A Al-Rabeeah
Source: Clinical Microbiology and Infection
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