Infection with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus

Article 16.2.1.

General provisions

Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory infection of humans and dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) which is caused by a coronavirus called Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV).

Dromedary camels are the natural host and zoonotic source of the MERS-CoV infection in humans. Other species may be susceptible to infection with MERS-CoV. However, their epidemiological significance has not been demonstrated.

MERS-CoV has been associated with mild upper respiratory signs in some dromedary camels. While the impact of MERS-CoV on animal health is very low, it can cause severe and sometimes fatal disease in humans.

For the purposes of the Terrestrial Code, MERS is defined as an infection of dromedary camels with MERS-CoV.

The following defines the occurrence of infection with MERS-CoV:

1. MERS-CoV has been isolated and identified as such in a sample from a dromedary camel; or

2. nucleic acid specific to MERS-CoV has been detected in a sample from a dromedary camel showing clinical signs or pathological lesions consistent with MERS, or with epidemiological links either to a confirmed or suspected case or to a human infected with MERS-CoV, or giving cause for suspicion of previous association or contact with MERS-CoV.

Standards for diagnostic tests are described in the Terrestrial Manual.

nb: first adopted in 2023.