MERS: What is the current situation in Saudi Arabia?

• Authors: Ziad Memish, Emory University
• Journal Title: Journal of Travel Medicine
• Volume: Volume 25, Number 1
• Publisher: Oxford University Press | 2018-01-01
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1093/jtm/tay065
• Subjects: Sociology, Public and Social Welfare; Health Sciences, Public Health; Health Sciences, Epidemiology; Health Sciences, Health Care Management
• Keywords: Adult; Coronavirus Infections; Crowding; Disease Outbreaks; Female; Humans; Male; Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus; Saudi Arabia; Travel

Abstract

Five years have passed since the first case of MERS-CoV was reported in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (SA) in September 2012, only a few weeks before that year's Hajj season. The global public health community was extremely concerned and on alert for the possibility of an impending pandemic from the new emerging coronavirus from the SARS family. The Ministry of Health (MoH) of SA worked tirelessly with key regional, global public health and academic partners to put in place an appropriate plan and recommendations for safeguarding the arriving 2 million international pilgrims.1 To the global medical community's surprise, the executed plan for the Hajj 2012 season was a successful one. Further, to better define the virus, its source, pathogenesis and national and global epidemiology, modes of transmission and best infection control measures to prevent its acquisition and spread, an exhaustive research agenda was developed and executed by the SA MoH.