Six-year experience of detection and investigation of possible Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus cases, England, 2012-2018

H Zhao; F ParryFord; G Dabrera; M Sinnathamby; J Ellis; J Dunning; H Osman; N Machin; R Pebody

doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2020.10.007

Six-year experience of detection and investigation of possible Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus cases, England, 2012-2018

Public Health. 2020 Dec:189:141-143. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2020.10.007. Epub 2020 Oct 20.

Authors

H Zhao¹, F ParryFord², G Dabrera², M Sinnathamby², J Ellis², J Dunning², H Osman³, N Machin⁴, R Pebody²

Affiliations

¹ National Infection Service, Public Health England, 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5EQ, UK. Electronic address: Hongxin.Zhao@phe.gov.uk.
² National Infection Service, Public Health England, 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5EQ, UK.
³ Birmingham Public Health Laboratory, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Bordesley Green East, Birmingham, B9 5SS, UK.
⁴ Public Health Laboratory, Manchester, UK.

Abstract

Objectives: Surveillance for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) has been undertaken in the UK since September 2012. This study describes the surveillance outcomes in England from 2012 to 2018.

Study design: This was a descriptive study using surveillance data.

Methods: Local health protection teams in England report possible MERS cases to the National Infection Service with clinical and laboratory data.

Results: A total of 1301 possible MERS cases were identified in the study period. Five cases were laboratory-confirmed MERS. The majority of cases had travelled to Saudi Arabia (56.7%) and United Arab Emirates (25.9%). Fifty-four percent of cases were men and 43.7% were women. The majority of cases (65.1%) were aged 45 years or older. The number of tests increased in the period after Hajj each year. Laboratory-confirmed alternative diagnoses were available for 513 (39.4%) cases; influenza was the most common virus detected (n = 255, 52.4%).

Conclusions: Our study highlights the importance of differential diagnosis of influenza and other respiratory pathogens and early influenza antiviral treatment.

Keywords: England; Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS); Surveillance.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Child
Child, Preschool
Coronavirus Infections / diagnosis*
Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
Disease Outbreaks
England / epidemiology
Female
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Male
Middle Aged
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus / isolation & purification*
Population Surveillance
Sentinel Surveillance
Travel