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(MENAFN – Khaleej Times) According to a recently published study, camel sellers with diabetes working in a live animal market in Abu Dhabi are the most numerous of the population tested positive for the respiratory syndrome coronavirus of the Middle East. Orient (Mers-CoV).
The study comes at a time when the region is reporting an upsurge in the number of cases of respiratory syndrome in the Middle East (Seas), particularly in Saudi Arabia.
The research team that conducted the seroprevalence study in collaboration with the US Centers for Disease Control released its findings last week in a first online issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
The seroprevalence of workers was tested in two slaughterhouses and one live animal market in Abu Dhabi in 2014-2017 and an epidemiological survey was conducted in 2016 and 2017. In 2014-2017, the team sampled 100-235 workers. seropositive for the Mers-CoV at each of the three sampling cycles.
In multivariate badyzes, working as a camel salesman, handling live camels or their wastes and suffering from diabetes were badociated with HIV status in all workers, while handling live camels combined with medication or equipment cleansing was badociated with HIV status.
The team's objective was to identify the specific risk factors that seem most likely to lead to the transmission of Mers-CoV, to help with the steps to be taken to prevent infections and to identify at-risk groups that might benefit from a future vaccine.
The investigators also conducted a survey to gather information on the demographics of workers, their travel history, the consumption of raw camel products, their job duties, the use of personal protective equipment and hand washing practices.
Results of the study
Among all workers, the seroprevalence of the Mers-CoV was particularly high in some occupations, including camel sellers (49%) and animal or waste carriers (22%). Self-reported diabetes was another factor related to seropositivity, which is consistent with previous reports of underlying health conditions as a risk factor for Mers-CoV infection.
Among other discoveries, the Mers-CoV was detected in market camels during the study period and one worker seroconverted, suggesting active transmission of camels to people.
The group wrote in the study: "Collectively, our results suggest an underestimated prevalence of human infection by the Mers-CoV in environments where the virus circulates among camels, probably due to a transmission between human. "
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at the end of March 2019, 2,399 cases of laboratory-confirmed seas, including 827 badociated deaths, have been reported worldwide. the majority of these cases were reported in Saudi Arabia (2008 cases, of which 749 are related to one death). The United Arab Emirates reported the highest number of cases between 2013 and 2014.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Health and Prevention (Mohap) said that since 2013, the UAE has reported 87 cases, the majority of them in 2016. "Strengthening infection control practices helped prevent nosocomial infections The last incident took place in 2016, "said the spokesman. "The last confirmed case of Mers-CoV in the United Arab Emirates dates back to May 2018 .."
The spokesperson also stated that the demographic and epidemiological characteristics of reported cases, compared during the same period from 2013 to 2019, showed no significant difference or change, except for the increase the number of secondary cases and cases due to health workers. current hospital epidemics.
"The Ministry, along with relevant partners, is implementing a strengthened surveillance strategy to ensure early detection of cases, as well as improved infection control and prevention to prevent secondary spread of infection" said the spokesman.
"Other measures are being implemented by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, which include camel screening across borders and the application of preventive measures."
"People in contact with camels should wear masks and apply personal hygiene measures to reduce the risk of infection," added the spokesman.
Asma Ali Zain Associated with KT for 15 years. Covers health issues, the Pakistani community, stories of human interest as well as general topics of current interest.
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