Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus(MERS)
June 22, 2015
On May 20, the Republic of Korea reported its first laboratory confirmed case of Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). As of June 12, 125 cases with 11 deaths had been confirmed by the World Health Organization, all linked to health care facilities with confirmed MERS cases.Due to this outbreak in Korea, health care providers in Iowa should be alert for patients who develop severe acute lower respiratory illness (e.g., requiring hospitalization) and visited a health care facility in the Republic of Korea within 14 days before illness onset. For more information, visit http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/watch/mers-republic-of-korea
Persons with recent travel from countries in the Arabian Peninsula, who develop respiratory illness, are still considered to be at increased risk for MERS. See MERS interim guidance.
Evaluation of Patients and Suspected Cases for MERS-CoV:
Clinicians and health care professionals should immediately report patients with suspect MERS-CoV infection to the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) at 800-362-2736. Testing at the State Hygienic Laboratory (SHL) will be arranged if indicated.
See the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more information including disease signs and symptoms.
Testing for MERS-CoV:
Physicians requesting MERS testing must contact the epidemiologists at the IDPH prior to submitting specimens. Please ensure that this consultation has occurred prior to sending specimens to SHL for testing.
If testing is approved by IDPH: Contact SHL prior to specimen collection for full instructions: 319-335-4500, ask for Molecular/Virology Supervisor.
Information regarding the FDA Emergency Use Authorization for the MERS test:
The Food and Drug Administration has allowed use of the use of the "CDC Novel Coronavirus 2012 Real-time RT-PCR Assay" under an Emergency Use Authorization.- This test has not been FDA cleared or approved;
- This test has been authorized by FDA under an Emergency Use Authorization for use by qualified laboratories;
- This test has been authorized only for the detection of MERS-CoV and not for any other viruses or pathogens;
- This test is only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of the emergency use of in vitro diagnostics for detection of MERS-CoV under section 564(b)(1) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3(b)(1).
