Estimation of Severe Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Cases in the Middle East, 2012-2016

Emerg Infect Dis. 2016 Oct;22(10):1797-9. doi: 10.3201/2210.151121.

Abstract

Using data from travelers to 4 countries in the Middle East, we estimated 3,250 (95% CI 1,300-6,600) severe cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome occurred in this region during September 2012-January 2016. This number is 2.3-fold higher than the number of laboratory-confirmed cases recorded in these countries.

Keywords: MERS-CoV; Middle East; Middle East respiratory syndrome; South Korea; coronavirus; disease outbreaks; incidence; population surveillance; respiratory infections; travel; viruses; zoonoses.

MeSH terms

  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Middle East / epidemiology
  • Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus*
  • Travel