Middle East Respiratory Syndrome- Potential Public Health Risk for India

Abstract

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome known as MERS is increasingly being recognized as a potential global threat. Seventy-five percent of the recently reported cases appear to be secondary cases; meaning that the individuals acquired the infection from another infected person. The majority of these secondary cases are healthcare workers who have been infected within the healthcare setting, and a few were patients who were in the hospital for other reasons. With Hajj season around and with a large expat population working in Middle East, India is at a higher risk. Improved surveillance, massive public awareness, sensitization of health workers, strengthening laboratory diagnosis are important in preventing a potential importation of the virus and the local spread.