Middle East Respiratory Syndrome- Potential Public Health Risk for India

  • F M Shaffi Ananthapuri Hospitals and Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram.
  • Sajith Kumar Government Medical College, Alappuzha, India
  • SS Lal Thiruvananthapuram, India
Keywords: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, Mass gathering, Corona Virus, MERS-CoV

Abstract

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome known as MERS is increasingly being recognized as a potential global threat. Seventy-five percent of the recently reported cases appear to be secondary cases; meaning that the individuals acquired the infection from another infected person. The majority of these secondary cases are healthcare workers who have been infected within the healthcare setting, and a few were patients who were in the hospital for other reasons. With Hajj season around and with a large expat population working in Middle East, India is at a higher risk. Improved surveillance, massive public awareness, sensitization of health workers, strengthening laboratory diagnosis are important in preventing a potential importation of the virus and the local spread.

Author Biographies

F M Shaffi, Ananthapuri Hospitals and Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram.

Assistant Professor & Registrar, Global Institute of Public Health, 

SS Lal, Thiruvananthapuram, India

Global Institute of Public Health

Published
2014-09-30
How to Cite
Shaffi, F., Kumar, S., & Lal, S. (2014). Middle East Respiratory Syndrome- Potential Public Health Risk for India. Kerala Medical Journal, 7(3), 52-55. https://doi.org/10.52314/kmj.2014.v7i3.327
Section
Original Research