SFDPH Health Advisory: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV); Updated Recommendations for Evaluation & Laboratory Submission June 16, 2015 Public Health, SF Dept of Public Health SFDPH health advisory, health advisory, MERS-CoV, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 0 UPDATE- from CDC as of 6/12/15: In addition to prior criteria for evaluation (severe respiratory illness after travel to the Arabian Peninsula; or milder respiratory illness and time spent in a health care facility in the Arabian Peninsula), evalution for MERS-CoV should be extended to persons with fever and pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome who were in a health care facility in South Korea within 14 days before symptom onset. See full criteria for Persons under Investigation (PUI) at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/mers/interim-guidance.html. Situation An outbreak of MERS-CoV began in South Korea in May 2015, when an individual became ill after traveling to several countries of the Arabian Peninsula, and then sought medical care at several health care facilities in South Korea. Health care providers should consider MERS-CoV infection in ill persons who have recently traveled from countries in or near the Arabian Peninsula or been in a health care facility in South Korea. New cases of MERS-CoV continue to occur in the Arabian Peninsula. MERS-CoV currently poses a low risk to residents in the U.S., and no cases have yet occurred in California. However, if introduced from travelers, MERS-CoV may spread readily in health care facilities unless appropriate infection control measures are used. Actions Requested of Clinicians Remain alert for potential cases of MERS-CoV. Obtain a detailed travel history from patients ill with acute respiratory disease.(Visit http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/immunize/Pages/MERS-CoV.aspx and see “June 2015 – CDPH Update for Health Care Providers on MERS”) Immediately report suspected cases of MERS-CoV by telephone 24/7 to SFDPH Communicable Disease Control (CDCU) at (415) 554-2830. After hours follow voice instructions to contact the on-call MD. Notify CDCU of close contacts to confirmed or probable cases of MERS-CoV while the case was ill. In health care settings, promptly institute Airborne, Contact, and Standard infection control precautions (www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/mers/infection-prevention-control.html). Isolate outpatients using these home care guidelines: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/mers/hcp/home-care.html. Lab specimens should be collected as soon as possible in consultation with SFDPH CDCU at (415) 554-2830. Contact SFDPH CDCU before submitting any laboratory specimens. Revised instructions for specimen collection and processing are located at sfcdcp.org/MERS-CoV.html Click here to view the SFDPH health advisory on MERS-CoV. Comments are closed.
