Release date: 2014-05-30
China CDC experts interpret the Middle East respiratory syndrome epidemic
Recently, cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus infection have increased dramatically, and the United States has also reported the entry of imported cases and the infection of close contacts. The virus has spread to many parts of the world, except for the Middle East, which is basically the source of imported cases. China and the people of the world are increasingly frequent, will the virus be introduced to China? Are we ready to respond?
According to the World Health Organization's May 22 report, since September 2012, 632 cases of MERS virus infection have been reported in 19 countries, including 193 deaths, mainly in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Since April this year, the number of reported cases has increased dramatically. Among them, Saudi Arabia reported 229 cases from April 11 to May 4. Both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates had outbreaks related to medical personnel. Malaysia, the Philippines, the United States, Greece and other countries. Input cases were also found.
Researcher Ni Daxin, assistant director of the Center for Health Emergency Response of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said: "The risk of introduction of the MERS virus into China has been introduced from the beginning of the discovery, but it has been introduced into China from the characteristics of the spread of the virus and the situation of personnel exchanges between countries. The overall risk is not high."
The virus has spread to Europe, North Africa, Southeast Asia, the United States and other places. Except for the Middle East, it is basically an imported case. It is only possible to have a small number of second-generation cases in individual countries, and it is less likely to spread to other countries. . Therefore, the risk of the virus being introduced into China from Europe, the United States, Southeast Asia and other third countries is extremely low. Ni Daxin also said that the measures currently taken by China are mainly to strengthen the relevant prevention and control of flight personnel in the Middle East directly or via European transit flights to China.
The MERS virus has enabled countries to strengthen the prevention and control of the epidemic during the Muslim pilgrimage every year. It is understood that about 13,000 citizens go to Saudi Arabia every year, and the religious bureau organizes the pilgrims to take a charter flight back and forth, along with medical staff. Since 2012, the CDC has assisted in the training of the MRS team and the accompanying medical staff in the prevention and control of MERS, as well as the medical observations of the pilgrims after returning to China. At the same time, the quality inspection department has also strengthened the entry and exit inspection and quarantine work. Last year, no incidents of infection and transmission of the virus caused by pilgrimage were found on a global scale.
WHO: The main reason for the rapid increase in cases is that prevention and control measures are not in place.
MERS virus and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus are easy to cause panic association because they belong to the same coronavirus. In this regard, researcher Tan Wenjie, director of the Center for Viral Disease Emergency Technology of the Center for Viral Disease Control and Prevention of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said that from the current situation, the ability of MERS virus transmission is not strong, compared with the 2003 SARS virus and the 2009 H1N1. The virus is weak, it may be that the virus has not fully adapted in the human body after it has been infected by animals. There is currently no evidence that the MERS virus itself has mutated. Although the number of reported cases has increased dramatically, it is still concentrated in several countries in the Middle East and has not spread widely. According to the WHO survey, the main reason for the rapid increase in cases is that local prevention and control measures are not in place.
For the increase in the number of infected people in this special group of medical staff, Tan Wenjie explained that the virus can be infected throughout the year, but the incidence will increase in late spring and early summer. Since April, there has been a peak of infection in the epidemic areas of the Middle East, and more people with acute infections have entered the hospital, which has increased the risk of infection among medical staff. This also reminds medical institutions and medical staff to further strengthen the hospital control and personal protection.
Tan Wenjie believes that the lack of widespread spread of the MERS virus is also closely related to the increased monitoring capacity of countries. The detection of some hidden infections also illustrates this problem. Practice has proved that timely detection of cases and effective measures are effective means to prevent the rapid spread of new infectious diseases.
"Be careful, don't be nervous." Tan Wenjie, who just returned from the US academic conference, said that the United States did not feel the tension of the MERS virus. Although two cases were found, the US Centers for Disease Control did not improve the level of prevention. . The relevant person in charge of the World Health Organization has also said that although the recent increase in MERS cases has not yet constituted a global health emergency, there is no evidence that the MERS virus can continue to spread between humans.
China's prevention and control focus: monitoring findings and hospital control
Currently, the focus of my defense-controlled Middle East respiratory syndrome is monitoring findings and hospital control. To this end, Ni Daxin pointed out that the majority of medical personnel must be vigilant. For the patients with acute respiratory infections who have a history of travel in the Middle East, timely collection of specimens for inspection, and timely entry of imported cases; at the same time, to strengthen hospital infection control, in accordance with relevant program requirements Implement suspected cases of isolation and personal protection to ensure that no serious intra-hospital infections and spreads occur in the case of imported cases. The public should also raise awareness of the disease. If fever, cough, dyspnea, diarrhea, etc. occur within 14 days of return from the Middle East, wear a mask and take it to a regular medical institution as soon as possible. The person's own travel history to assist medical staff in making accurate judgments.
China has carried out related diagnostic reagents, laboratory testing methods, vaccine research and development, etc., basically in sync with the world.
Tan Wenjie introduced that after the discovery of the MERS virus, the National Science and Technology Major Project launched a related new virus traceability project. Our experts have carried out diagnostic reagents, laboratory testing methods, vaccine research and development, etc. through information on viral gene sequences that have been published internationally. The world is in sync. Recently, China has obtained the MERS virus strain, and will further verify the existing research results and step up the follow-up study.
Ni Daxin introduced that after the emergence of the virus, the National Health and Family Planning Commission took the lead in establishing a coordination mechanism including major departments such as quality inspection, civil aviation and religion, formulated emergency plans, and formulated plans and countermeasures for the introduction and spread of the virus. . Internally, the health department closely monitors global epidemic changes, timely assesses incoming risks, and conducts monitoring and treatment programs to train personnel at all levels of disease control and medical institutions.
"At present, the country's technical reserves and disease surveillance capabilities, including the prevention and control capabilities of primary health care institutions, have significantly increased compared with 10 years ago, enabling timely detection and effective response to the introduction of the MERS virus," said Tan Wenjie.
Source: Health News
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