کد مقاله | کد نشریه | سال انتشار | مقاله انگلیسی | نسخه تمام متن |
---|---|---|---|---|
3361776 | 1592047 | 2016 | 5 صفحه PDF | دانلود رایگان |
• The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) remains a threat to global health security, and continuous surveillance for the virus in returning pilgrims or travellers from the Middle East is required.
• The UK is home to over two million Muslims. Around 25 000 UK pilgrims visit Mecca and Medina each year for the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages.
• During the years 2013–2015, 214 UK patients who had travelled to the Middle East fulfilled the criteria of the MERS-CoV case definition algorithm and were tested for MERS-CoV infection.
• No MERS-CoV cases were detected over the period of Hajj seasons 2013, 2014, and 2015.
• A viral aetiology was detected in 50% of cases. Rhinovirus and influenza A, detected in equal proportions, were the most common viruses detected.
• Heightened awareness and rapid screening are essential parts of sustained surveillance to prevent outbreaks of MERS-CoV.
SummaryBackgroundOver 25 000 pilgrims from the UK visit Saudi Arabia every year for the Umrah and Hajj pilgrimages. The recent outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in South Korea and the continuing reports of MERS-CoV cases from Saudi Arabia highlight the need for active surveillance for MERS-CoV in returning pilgrims or travellers from the Middle East. Public Health England Birmingham Laboratory (PHEBL) is one of a few selected UK public health laboratories responsible for MERS-CoV screening in travellers returning to the UK from the Middle East who present to hospital with severe respiratory symptoms. The results of the PHEBL MERS-CoV screening and surveillance over the past 3 years is presented.MethodsUK travellers/pilgrims who returned from the Middle East and presented to a hospital with respiratory symptoms were studied over the period February 1, 2013 to December 31, 2015. Patients with respiratory symptoms, who satisfied the Public Health England MERS-CoV case algorithm, were tested for MERS-CoV and other respiratory tract viruses on admission to hospital.ResultsTwo hundred and two patients suspected of having MERS-CoV were tested. None of them had a laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV infection. A viral aetiology was detected in half (50.3%) of the cases, with rhinoviruses, influenza A (H1N1 and H3N2), and influenza B being most frequent. Peak testing occurred following the annual Hajj season and in other periods of raised national awareness.ConclusionsRespiratory tract infections in travellers/pilgrims returning to the UK from the Middle East are mainly due to rhinoviruses, influenza A, and influenza B. Whilst MERS-CoV was not detected in the 202 patients studied, heightened awareness of the possibility of MERS-CoV and continuous proactive surveillance are essential to rapidly identify cases of MERS-CoV and other seasonal respiratory tract viruses such as avian influenza, in patients presenting to hospital. Early identification and isolation may prevent outbreaks in nosocomial settings.
Journal: International Journal of Infectious Diseases - Volume 47, June 2016, Pages 10–14