Medical advice regarding the MERS-CoV received from the Medical Adviser of the European Commission.

Medical advice regarding the MERS-CoV received from the Medical Adviser of the European Commission:

Human-to-human transmission: The virus does not appear to pass easily from person to person unless there is close contact, such as providing unprotected care to an infected patient. There have been clusters of cases in healthcare facilities, where human-to-human transmission appears to be more probable, especially when infection prevention and control practices are inadequate. Thus far, no sustained community transmission has been documented.


No vaccine or specific treatment is currently available.. As a general precaution, everybody should practice general hygiene measures, including regular hand washing before and after touching animals, and should avoid close contact with sick people with respiratory symptoms. Treatment is supportive and based on the patient’s clinical condition.


Until more is understood about MERS-CoV, health workers and people with diabetes, renal failure, chronic lung disease, and immunocompromised persons are considered to be at high risk of severe disease from MERS-CoV infection.


WHO does not recommend the application of any travel or trade restrictions or entry screening related to MERS-CoV.