Mycobacterial Diseases
Open Access

Abstract

Incidence and Mortality Rate of “Middle East Respiratory Syndrome”-Corona Virus (MERS-Cov), Threatens and Opportunities

Hamid Y Hussain

Background: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus causing acute severe respiratory Diseases has been reported in 2012 in Saudi Arabia. Causative agent is corona virus which is called MERS-CoV. Confirmed cases of virus positive came to have MERS-CoV were presented with severe acute respiratory illness. Typically developed fever, cough, and shortness of breath. And almost half of the confirmed diagnosis was died so far, which revealed high mortality rate.

Objectives: To study the incidence and mortality rate of MERS-CoV, to identify main threatens and opportunities.

Methodology: MEDLINE and CINAHL electronic databases were searched using a pre-defined search strategy. Additional references from the bibliographies of retrieved articles were also reviewed and experts in the area were contacted.

Selection Criteria: Only original research articles on MERS-CoV incidence.

Search Result and Quality Assessment: The initial literature search identified 47 papers. Of these, 9 original articles met the selection criteria, and directly related. All were type II evidence-population-based clinical MERS-CoV Studies. The methodological qualities of included studies were assessed using the Downs and Black checklist. systematic review of the relevant literature, using specific search engine strategies and specific key words, out 0f 47 research only 9 original articles were only included.

Results: Since 2012 the cases has been reported in 21 countries, yet most of the reporting still come from Arab Peninsula region, almost 842 cases has been reported, about 322 case were died, main countries affected by the disease is Saudi Arabia 714 cases reported among which 292 (40 %) were died and UAE as 71 cases were diagnosed among which 9 were died (21.6%%), So far, all the cases have been linked to six countries in or near the Arabian Peninsula. And 2 cases have been identified in the U.S. This virus has spread from ill people to others through close contact. However, the virus has not shown to spread in a sustained way in communities. The situation is still evolving.

Conclusion: The disease is taking propagating epidemic curve and trending towards more spreading and adding more and more cases at the beginning of the epidemic, by time increasing number of index cases led to change to new epidemiological curve pattern into explosive curve, Recommendations, Breaking transmition chain at its main weak point is highly recommended, health care professionals with direct concern needs to do deep Gap analysis studies to address why the virus still circulating and propagating in spite of all advanced preventive and control measures applied so far, and the main question needs to be addressed here is how to reach sources of infections and to breaking down the transmission chain, CDC is working with partners to better understand the risks of this virus, including the source, how it spreads, and how infections might be prevented.