Periodic global One Health threats update

Reperant, Leslie A.; MacKenzie, John; Osterhaus, Albert D.M.E.

The prompt characterization of the MERS-CoV as the etiological agent of the first reported case [19] , of its cellular receptor [25] , and of its animal reservoirs [21] [22] [23] [24] are to be commended. These are of paramount importance for the rapid diagnosis and containment of infected individuals. While the epidemiological situation has remained largely unchanged since the emergence of MERS, large outbreaks of nosocomial infections are worrisome. These call for the development of specific intervention strategies, should the virus become efficiently transmissible among humans. Prevention at the source, for example through the vaccination of dromedary camels against MERS-CoV, is essential to limit cross-species transmission of the virus from animals to humans. However, the development of specific intervention strategies to be rapidly deployed in humans is urgently needed, and should be undertaken ahead of a potential change in the ability of MERS-CoV to transmit among humans. This may necessitate profound changes in the interactions between the public and private sectors for the development of new medicines, as was recently learned upon emergence of the Ebola virus [26] .