MERS-CoV, Qatar (OIE, November 29 2013): 1st Camels Outbreak

[Giuseppe]

[Source: OIE, full page: (LINK). Edited.]


MERS-CoV, Qatar


Information received on 28/11/2013 from Mr Kassem Nasser Al-Qahtani, Director of Dept of Animal resources, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture, Department of Animal resources, DOHA, Qatar

• Summary
  • Report type Immediate notification
  • Date of start of the event 14/10/2013
  • Date of pre-confirmation of the event 26/11/2013
  • Report date 28/11/2013
  • Date submitted to OIE 28/11/2013
  • Reason for notification Emerging disease
  • Morbidity 3/21.4 %
  • Mortality 0 %
  • Zoonotic impact: Asymptomatic exposure of camel to MERS-CoV (laboratory advanced) and one outbreak in a specific zone (Shahanya)
  • Causal agent MERS-CoV
  
  
• New outbreaks (1)
  • Outbreak 1 - Shahanya, Shahanya, Rayyan, AR RAYYAN
    • Date of start of the outbreak 14/10/2013
    • Outbreak status Continuing (or date resolved not provided)
    • Epidemiological unit Farm
    • Affected animals: Species ? Susceptible ? Cases ? Deaths ? Destroyed ? Slaughtered
      • Camelidae - 14 ? 3 ? 0 ? 0 ? 0
      • Affected population: Small farm with 14 camels, one sheep, one pigeon cage and some chicken.
  
  
• Summary of outbreaks
  • Total outbreaks: 1
    • Total animals affected: Species ? Susceptible ? Cases ? Deaths ? Destroyed ? Slaughtered
      • Camelidae ? 14 ? 3 ? 0 ? 0 ? 0
      
      
    • Outbreak statistics: Species - Apparent morbidity rate - Apparent mortality rate - Apparent case fatality rate - Proportion susceptible animals lost*
      • Camelidae - 21.43% - 0.00% - 0.00% - 0.00%
      • *Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or slaughter
  
  
• Epidemiology
  • Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection
    • Unknown or inconclusive
  
  
• Epidemiological comments
  • The health authority in Qatar notified the presence of a confirmed human MERS-CoV (Middle-East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus) case.
  • A joint team from both health and veterinary authorities was sent to the patient farm to investigate the health status of animals and the contact person.
  • A farm worker proved to be positive for MERS-CoV and samples were collected from the 14 existing camels in addition to one sheep, some pigeons and chickens and some environmental samples (water, soil, animal food and grass) and all were sent to the Netherlands for testing.
  • All animals were kept under observation and quarantine and all were apparently healthy.
  
  
• Control measures
  • Measures applied
    • Quarantine
    • Movement control inside the country
    • Screening
    • Zoning
    • Disinfection of infected premises/establishment(s)
    • No vaccination
    • No treatment of affected animals
    
    
  • Measures to be applied
    • No other measures
  
  
• Diagnostic test results
  • Laboratory name and type ? Species ? Test - Test date ? Result
    • Erasmus Medical Center (Rotterdam) and National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (Bilthoven), the Netherlands (OIE?s Reference Laboratory) ? Camelidae - polymerase chain reaction (PCR) - 26/11/2013 - positive
  
  
• Future Reporting
  • The event is continuing. Weekly follow-up reports will be submitted.

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