The CDC has announced a second case of the MERS Coronavirus; the first case was discovered in Florida, the second in Indiana. Both were healthcare workers who had been working in Saudi Arabia. Overall to date, there have been >500 cases in 14 countries since 2012, with a 30% mortality rate. What this means for hospitalists is the following:
• Suspect MERS in anyone with a clinical syndrome of acute respiratory illness, fever, cough, or shortness of breath, in those returning from travel within 14 days from in-around the Arabian Peninsula (or in close contact with a symptomatic traveler) http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/mers/faq.html
• Immediately place suspected patients in contact and respiratory isolation (there has been person-to-person spread through close contact)
• Immediately report any suspected cases to your local-state health department http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/mers/interim-guidance.html
The CDC has also provided a Healthcare Facility Checklist to make sure your hospitals are prepared: http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/mers/preparedness/checklist-facility-preparedness.html
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