MERS-COV in the Middle East, a one health concept approach

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), a zoonotic virus, emerged in 2012 with a high fatality rate.
• Despite over a decade, MERS-CoV remains a public health concern, circulating and evolving in animal reservoirs.
• The COVID-19 pandemic context necessitates a re-evaluation of MERS-CoV epidemiology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current epidemiology of MERS-CoV in humans and animals.
• To analyze MERS-CoV's evolution and circulation patterns post-COVID-19 pandemic.
• To identify knowledge gaps and recommend future surveillance strategies.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of MERS-CoV epidemiology.
• Analysis of recent MERS-CoV surveillance data in humans and animals.
• Genomic surveillance data interpretation.

Main Results:

• New MERS-CoV lineages are detected in dromedary camels in Saudi Arabia.
• A gradual resurgence of human MERS-CoV cases is observed.
• An increasing number of cases lack clear exposure to camels, raw products, or known human cases.

Conclusions:

• Ongoing viral evolution in camels poses a continued risk.
• The emergence of cases with unknown transmission routes underscores the need for enhanced global surveillance.
• Genomic surveillance is critical for understanding viral changes, transmission, and developing countermeasures for MERS-CoV.