Epidemiology of MERS-CoV in Saudi Arabia, 2012–2025: a nationwide surveillance analysis

Clicks: 13
ID: 333093
2026
Free PDF
Article Quality & Performance Metrics
Overall Quality
Not rated
Combines reader engagement with the AI quality analysis. This article has not been analysed, so there is no overall score — reader engagement is measured and shown alongside.
AI Quality Assessment
Not analyzed
Readership in this journal
Emerging

Ranked #63 of 75 articles by views in international journal of travel medicine and global health

Most read Least read

Bar heights use a square-root scale.

Mint this article as an NFT
Not yet minted

Create a permanent, verifiable on-chain record of this article on the Scimatic Network. The NFT is held in your Journament account, and you can withdraw it to your own wallet at any time.

5 SUSD one-off · no wallet required
Sign in to mint
Abstract
Abstract Background Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), caused by MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV), is a severe zoonotic respiratory illness first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012. Dromedary camels are the recognised reservoir, with human transmission occurring through animal exposure and, less commonly, person-to-person spread, particularly in healthcare settings. Objective To characterise all laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV cases reported in Saudi Arabia from September 2012 to August 2025, examine trends across four periods defined by suspected-case definitions, and identify factors independently associated with mortality. Methods We analysed laboratory-confirmed cases in the national surveillance database by period and probable infection source. Case-fatality ratios (CFRs), 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and unadjusted odds ratios were calculated. Multivariable logistic regression assessed independent mortality associations using a prespecified model including period, age, sex, and infection source, and a fuller model additionally considering nationality, comorbidities, and pregnancy. Seasonality of primary cases was assessed using an annual harmonic term. Results Among 2,219 cases, 1,545 (70%) were male, 1,566 (71%) Saudi nationals, and 608 (27%) aged ≥65 years. Overall, 1,211 (55%) were primary cases, including 172 (14%) reporting camel contact; 737 (33%) were healthcare-associated and 271 (12%) household- or community-associated. There were 867 deaths (CFR, 39%; 95% CI, 37%–41%). CFR declined from 65% in the earliest period to 32% in the most recent, although changing testing eligibility and ascertainment limit temporal comparisons. Older adults had the highest crude CFR. In the prespecified model, healthcare-associated infection among patients was associated with higher odds of death (aOR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.15–2.65), while odds were lower among healthcare workers (aOR, 0.09; 95% CI, 0.05–0.17) and household contacts (aOR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.18–0.48). No consistent seasonality was observed. Conclusions MERS-CoV epidemiology in Saudi Arabia reflects persistent zoonotic spillover, episodic healthcare-associated transmission, and substantial mortality, particularly among older adults. Sustained One Health surveillance, rapid detection, and rigorous infection prevention and control remain essential.
Reference Key
openalex_W7223047326 Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors Amal Mohammed Alshahrani, Ezzudin A Okmi, Mutaz Mohammed, Osman Abdalla, Mahmood Aldoukhi, Afrah Alshahrani, Seham F. Basheer, Norah Alhazir, Sanaa A Alsulaiman, Hajar Salem Banuqaytah, Lama Alwalan, Mukhtar Althiyabi, Amal M Alghamdi, Sheena G. Sullivan, Yusuff Adebayo Adebisi, Najim Zafer Alshahrani
Journal international journal of travel medicine and global health
Year 2026
DOI
10.1093/jtm/taag094
URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/jtm/taag094
Keywords Keywords not found

Citations

No citations found. To add a citation, contact the admin at info@scimatic.org

Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to comment on this article.