to-person transmission of MERS-CoV. Where it has been suspected that the virus has been transmitted from person to person, it appears that there had been close contact between somebody who was sick and another person: a family member, a fellow patient or a health care worker. Secondly, many fewer infections with MERS-CoV have been reported in health care workers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia than might have been expected on the basis of the previous experience of SARS. During the SARS epidemic, health care workers were at high risk of infection. The MERS-CoV is different from the SARS virus. Although the reason why fewer health care workers have been infected with MERS-CoV is not clear, it could be that improvements in infection control that were made after the outbreak of SARS have made a significant difference. In this context, infection control measures in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia appear to be effective. Currently, the diagnosis of MERS CoV relies heavily on clinical awareness combined with confirmatory testing for the presence of MERS-CoV by the polymerase chain reaction. No bedside test exists. Treatment is primarily supportive and there are no convincing data that the use of potent antiviral agents, such as ribavirin and interferon, brings any benefit. The use of steroids in high doses should be avoided. The joint mission reviewed the response in Saudi Arabia, and concluded that the country has done an excellent job in investigating and controlling the outbreaks. Once the first cases were identified in 2012, several steps were taken, including the following: - Measures, including infection control measures, were introduced to stop hospital outbreaks. - Surveillance for MERS CoV cases was significantly increased. - Awareness campaigns to alert and educate the public were launched. - Cases of MERS CoV were reported to WHO. - Eepidemiological investigations were initiated to identify the sources of infection, risk factors and routes of transmission. - International experts were invited to help. At this point, the right prevention and control measures have been applied, and the Saudi Government is to be congratulated for urgently taking crucial actions. --More 18:53 LOCAL TIME 15:53 GMT تغريد
