TRAVELLERS, HEALTH WORKERS ON MIDDLE EAST RESPIRATORY SYNDROME CORONAVIRUS (MERS-CoV)

GUEST BLOGGER:Zizwani Chilinda.

Health Services Manager (Central Health Limited, Lilongwe).
BA Health Systems Management,Dip Nursing/Midwife
Was one of my few bright Primary School classmates back at Embangweni.He writes on his own personal Capacity

TRAVELLERS, HEALTH WORKERS ON MIDDLE EAST RESPIRATORY SYNDROME CORONAVIRUS (MERS-CoV)
As of 25 March 2014, the total number of cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) reported globally is 199, including 84 deaths. To date, all cases have either occurred in the Middle East (Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE), have had direct links to a primary case infected in the Middle East, or have returned from the Middle East. A few cases have been confirmed in Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman and United Arab Emirates.
Person-to-person transmission has occurred both among close contacts and in healthcare facilities. Infections acquired in health care facilities currently account for more than half of secondary cases.
Recent studies in several countries indicate that animals could be a possible source of infection, or the intermediate hosts, however the virus reservoir remains unknown. Most primary human cases do not have a history of direct exposure to animals.


ADVICE FOR TRAVELLERS The risk of Malawian residents contracting infection in Malawi remains very low. The risk to people travelling to Middle Eastern countries may be slightly higher than within the Malawi, but is still very low and does not warrant a change in travel advice. Travellers returning from the Middle East and surrounding countries within 14 days, with mild respiratory symptoms, are most likely to have a common respiratory illness such as a cold. However, if more severe respiratory symptoms develop, such as increasing shortness of breath, within two weeks of returning from these countries, medical advice should be sought from their medical professionals. Returning travellers should mention which countries they have visited.
 
ADVICE FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS The level of risk in those who come to Malawi from, or return from, the Middle East and meet the case definition for a “case under investigation” is very low but warrants testing for novel coronavirus infection.