I'll admit to a little media sensationalism in the
title. Everyone knows about SARS thanks
to the 2003 global outbreak. Not
everyone knows that SARS was caused by a Coronavirus and face it - had I
started off with Novel Corona Virus (one of our latest viral threats) eyes
would glaze over and you may not have read this post!
title. Everyone knows about SARS thanks
to the 2003 global outbreak. Not
everyone knows that SARS was caused by a Coronavirus and face it - had I
started off with Novel Corona Virus (one of our latest viral threats) eyes
would glaze over and you may not have read this post!
Similar to the H7N9 Influenza virus that many of us are
following closely, the Novel Coronavirus (nCoV) or as it is now officially
known as "Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus" (MERS-CoV) is believed to have caused the death of
at least 18 people in the Middle East and Europe is cause for concern. While 18 deaths may not seem significant this
in actual fact is roughly half of the laboratory confirmed cases - basically a
flip of a coin in deciding life over death.
following closely, the Novel Coronavirus (nCoV) or as it is now officially
known as "Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus" (MERS-CoV) is believed to have caused the death of
at least 18 people in the Middle East and Europe is cause for concern. While 18 deaths may not seem significant this
in actual fact is roughly half of the laboratory confirmed cases - basically a
flip of a coin in deciding life over death.
It's important to understand, that MERS-CoV is not
SARS. They are both from the same family
of viruses and the fact that they are related is certainly a certain in trying
to predict the future. MERS-CoV has been
infecting people in the Middle East (Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United
Arab Emirates) and Europe (UK, Germany and France), however, at this time we
still do not know where the virus stems from.
Similar to SARS Coronavirus we saw in 2003, many of people who have
become infected develop severe pneumonia.
Of interest with nCoV, many of those that have been infected to date
have been older men with underlying medical conditions.
SARS. They are both from the same family
of viruses and the fact that they are related is certainly a certain in trying
to predict the future. MERS-CoV has been
infecting people in the Middle East (Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United
Arab Emirates) and Europe (UK, Germany and France), however, at this time we
still do not know where the virus stems from.
Similar to SARS Coronavirus we saw in 2003, many of people who have
become infected develop severe pneumonia.
Of interest with nCoV, many of those that have been infected to date
have been older men with underlying medical conditions.
What we can say is that the clusters that have been seen
so far support the fact that person-to-person transmission with close contact
with an infected person is occurring.
Transmission does seem to be limited to close contact within small
clusters with no indication that the virus has the capacity to sustain
generalized transmission within communities.
Nor do we know if other people have or are developing a mild infection
and therefore have not had to seek medical attention.
so far support the fact that person-to-person transmission with close contact
with an infected person is occurring.
Transmission does seem to be limited to close contact within small
clusters with no indication that the virus has the capacity to sustain
generalized transmission within communities.
Nor do we know if other people have or are developing a mild infection
and therefore have not had to seek medical attention.
Most concerning are the questions we have yet to answer
such as how people getting infected (from animals? from surfaces? from people
through droplet or contact transmission?) and what are the main risk
factors? Genetic testing of MERS-CoV is
showing that the virus is similar to bat viruses BUT this similarity does not
imply that bats are the reservoir or that direct exposure to bats or bat poop
are responsible for infection. Further,
researchers have yet to find MERS-CoV in an animal.
such as how people getting infected (from animals? from surfaces? from people
through droplet or contact transmission?) and what are the main risk
factors? Genetic testing of MERS-CoV is
showing that the virus is similar to bat viruses BUT this similarity does not
imply that bats are the reservoir or that direct exposure to bats or bat poop
are responsible for infection. Further,
researchers have yet to find MERS-CoV in an animal.
From an infection prevention perspective we do know that
Coronaviruses are enveloped viruses meaning in the hierarchy of susceptibility
to disinfectants they are among the easiest pathogens to kill. Ensuring we have a robust cleaning and
disinfection program for environmental surfaces and shared patient care
equipment and medical devices will help mitigate environmental transmission. Standard Precautions (Routine Practices)
including hand hygiene and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (gloves,
goggles, gowns, masks) are of course a cornerstone to any infection control
program. The WHO has developed an
Interim Guidance Document for Infection Prevention and control during healthcare for probable or confirmed cases of Novel Coronavirus (nCoV) infection and
I know that many of our National and Regional Public Health agencies across
North America have been developing and circulating similar guidance documents,
screening tools and check lists.
Coronaviruses are enveloped viruses meaning in the hierarchy of susceptibility
to disinfectants they are among the easiest pathogens to kill. Ensuring we have a robust cleaning and
disinfection program for environmental surfaces and shared patient care
equipment and medical devices will help mitigate environmental transmission. Standard Precautions (Routine Practices)
including hand hygiene and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (gloves,
goggles, gowns, masks) are of course a cornerstone to any infection control
program. The WHO has developed an
Interim Guidance Document for Infection Prevention and control during healthcare for probable or confirmed cases of Novel Coronavirus (nCoV) infection and
I know that many of our National and Regional Public Health agencies across
North America have been developing and circulating similar guidance documents,
screening tools and check lists.
When it comes to our understanding of MERS-CoV there
certainly are gaps in our knowledge that will inevitably take time to fill
in. Those who want to keep abreast of
the latest findings can do so by following the Global Alert Response (GAR)
Updates on the WHO website. For those of
use lucky enough to travel, the next time your seatmate coughs you may want to
ask where they've travelled to lately - just don't lean in too close.....
certainly are gaps in our knowledge that will inevitably take time to fill
in. Those who want to keep abreast of
the latest findings can do so by following the Global Alert Response (GAR)
Updates on the WHO website. For those of
use lucky enough to travel, the next time your seatmate coughs you may want to
ask where they've travelled to lately - just don't lean in too close.....
Bugging Off!
Nicole
