Dubai: The long incubation period — nine to 10 days, of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers), a viral respiratory illness, is good news according to a leading virology expert.
Previously it was thought to be about seven days.
Speaking exclusively to Gulf News from the UK, John Oxford, Professor of Virology at the University of London, and Chairman of the Global Hygiene Council, said that the nine- to 10-day incubation period of Mers makes it easier for public health interventions.
He reiterated that awareness of Mers is integral and stressed the need for increased hygiene.
He spoke of two intervention methods — increasing hygiene standards and contact tracing, which is the identification and diagnosis of people who may have come into contact with an infected person.
He said that people should protect themselves by thoroughly washing hands often and disinfecting surfaces.
On the contact tracing method, he said, “The long incubation period means a person will show the symptoms after nine to 10 days. The period gives public health officials more time to find and isolate or quarantine those who have been in contact with the infected person as well as to identify the places the infected person has visited. This helps reduce the spread of the infection.”
Prof Oxford explained that unlike influenza, in which symptoms flare and infection spreads in about two days, Mers provides a longer window of time to prevent spread of infection.
On diagnosis, he reiterated that the only method to diagnose Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers), a viral respiratory illness, is through a lab test.
According to the US-based Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), lab tests (polymerase chain reaction or PCR) for Mers-CoV are available at state health departments, CDC, and some international labs. There are a limited number of commercial tests available.
“The PCR test is a standard test that is the most important for diagnosis,” he said.
Prof Oxford added if a person has travelled to Saudi Arabia and develops a fever or any other symptoms of respiratory illness like a cough within 14 days of his return, he or she should seek medical help.
