Middle East Respiratory Syndrome

Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases has no fixed geographical boundaries. They often result in high morbidity, death rate and contribute to significant socio-economic burden. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is an emerging respiratory tract infection of the human beings caused by Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (or MERS-CoV). It has raised the panic and concern among the masses in the Middle East countries in the previous years. Camels are considered to be a major animal reservoir and source of infection in humans. The human-to -human transmission has been reported through close contact with an infected person, inadequate prevention and control measures in healthcare facilities. The incubation period of MERS-CoV ranges between 2-14 days. The typical clinical case presentation of MERS is fever, cough, and/or shortness of breath. Severe cases may develop respiratory failure and death. CDC recommends molecular test (rRT-PCR) for diagnosis and serological test for surveillance or investigation purposes of MERS-CoV. There is no vaccine and specific treatment currently available for MERS. Only symptomatic treatment is given. Nursing interventions include thorough travel assessment, history taking, education, and provision of bed rest, comfort measures, safety, adequate hydration, nutrition, management of fever, cough, diarrhea and other complications.